Obituary of Reba Rivers

Services for Reba Rivers, 86, Arp, will be at 10:00 am, Thursday, August 22, in the First Baptist Church, Arp, with Reverend Mike Rice and Dennis Pruitt officiating. Burial will be in Elkins Cemetery near Arp, under direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton. Mrs. Rivers died Sunday, August 18, 2013 in a hospice facility in Tyler. She was born June 28, 1927 in Kaufman County to the late Leonard and Lucy Cullins Stovall. She was the first woman to go to work for Tyler Pipe foundry where she was in charge of the foundry brass room. After her retirement she focused completely on her rental properties which was Rivers Hill Rentals in Omen. She was the first woman to purchase property on CR 2106 which years later was named after her, Reba Rivers Road. She was an enthusiastic member of the TJC Aquatic Class for 22 years which was lead by instructor Jeff Holland. She was a devoted member of the Arp First Baptist Church for many years. She enjoyed sharing her faith in Jesus Christ with everyone that crossed her path. Her greatest joys in life were her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her church.  Besides her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Vernon D. Rivers Sr. on June 22, 1993.  Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Vernon D. Rivers, Jr. and Cindy Rivers, Tyler, Roger Glenn and Lynda Rivers, Lindale, Richard Lynn and Kasey Rivers, Tyler; two daughters and sons-in-law, Reba Darlene and Steve Moore, Omen, and Helen Janette and Jim Reynolds, Sachse; a brother, Herman Stovall, Kemp; two sisters, Alma King, Whitehouse, and Jewel Faulkner, Garland; special close family friends (adopted by love), Natalie and Steve Bowles and their children; sixteen grandchildren, twenty four great-grandchildren, and two great great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Pallbearers will be grandsons, Johnny Rivers, Jaime Rivers, Robert Rivers, Steven Moore, Kevin Moore, Jeremy Moore, Andy Reynolds, Matt Reynolds, Aaron Reynolds, Jacob Reynolds, Casey Rivers, Rocky Rivers, and Josh Turman.  Honorable pallbearers will be her granddaughters, Candice Andrews, Jennifer Massey, and Stormee Rivers. Special Thank You to her caregivers, Jean Goodman and Marjorie Moon and Hospice of East Texas for their loving care.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm, Wednesday, August 21.