Leo Rivera

Services are scheduled at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, October 8, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church for Leo Chana Rivera of Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Rivera, 54, died Sunday, October 4, 2009 at Artesia General Hospital Emergency Room. Fr. Paul Murtagh SS.CC. will officiate at the services with burial at Twin Oaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be James Gonzales, Glen Westall, Raul Velasquez, Jimmy Hernandez, Jose Bustos, and Frank Hernandez. Honorary pallbearers will be Emilio Bustos, Ethan Leo Rivera, Ebony Gonzales, Tyler Westall, Ashley Westall, Jessie Carrasco, MC. Wilder and the remainder of his close friends. A rosary will be at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Rivera was born July 8, 1955 in Artesia, New Mexico; the son of Reynaldo Rivera and Elodia Alvarado Rivera. He served his country in the United States National Guard. On March 24, 1981 he was married to Emma Velasquez in Carlsbad, N.M. He was a lifelong resident of Artesia. Leo worked as a Truck Driver and was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. He also and attended church retreats. Leo was preceded in death by his father; and brothers Jessie Rivera, and Raymond Rivera. Survivors include his wife Emma Rivera of the family home; mother Elodia Rivera of Artesia; daughters Connie Westall and husband Glen of Loco Hills, N.M., Stephanie Rivera of Artesia, and Ginger Rivera and fianc James Gonzales of Artesia; brothers Manuel Rivera of Wisconsin, Joe Rivera of Artesia, Fred Rivera of Artesia, Albert Rivera of Denver City, Texas, Julian Rivera of Hope, N.M., and Martin Rivera of Artesia; sisters Antonia Gutierrez of Roswell, N.M., Betty Hernandez of Austin, Texas, Viola Natividad of Midland, Texas, his twin sister Linda Molina of Midland, Lucy Rivera of Midland, and Rosemary Karr of Artesia; grandchildren Emilio Bustos, Ethan Leo Rivera, Ebony Gonzales, Tyler Westall and Ashley Westall.