Jesus Nazareo Rivas, Sr.

Jesus Nazareo Rivas Sr. was born June 12, 1959 to Esteban Rivas and Petra Rodriguez in Nuevo Laredo, Tamalipas, Mexico. He was raised an only child and began learning what hard work was at the early age of six.  Jesus would go to work with his father, stomping in mud pits where mortar was made to create bricks, then he would carry buckets of mud over to the brick makers.  He was doing his part to help is mother.

At the age of 14 he had the opportunity to come to the United States on a student visa.   He came to live with his Aunt and Uncle, and attended Burbank High School in San Antonio, TX.  While in school he was a member of the JROTC Drill team, and would attend competitions.  Jesus also worked while he was in school.  He worked in a Mexican food restaurant, where he started as a dish washer, and by the age of 16 was trusted with managing one of the many restaurants his bosses owned.  Working all those years in the restaurants he gain incredible cooking skills.  Anything he cooked, he made with such ease and it was delicious!  At the age of 17, while working at Lupita's restaurant, he met Adelina Garcia.  He said he knew she was the one, because every time she would enter the room he had butterflies in his stomach. Shortly after meeting they became boyfriend and girlfriend.  Jesus loved and raised Adelina's two oldest children Jessica and George, and together had an additional three. Juliette, Jesus Jr. (Jesse) and Jennie.  Jesus and Adelina were together 45 years and married for 40 years.  He mentioned more than once that he never stopped having butterflies when he would see his Wife, his first and only girlfriend. During their time together Jesus and Adelina would work together for many years.  They became master merchants for Church's Chicken franchises, they would helped run for their friends.

This task would bring them to Arizona in 1985, bringing along their family of seven.  Before moving to Arizona, Jesus and Adelina joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They would raise their children in the church, and were sealed for time and All eternity on November 22, 1987.  Jesus, later worked in construction, and was part of the surveying team that build the new bridge going into Apache Junction.  Jesus, worked on continuing his education, while working in the copper mines, then changing careers once again.  He graduated from Eastern Arizona college, and began work a case manager for DES, and later was hired on at Horizon, where is helped to rehabilitate special needs individuals.

Jesus lived a life of service.  He served in many church callings throughout his life.  Being responsible for the Missionaries in his area, he made sure all the young men and women serving were on track. He guided them and parented them and made sure they always had clean clothes and plenty to eat.   He prayed daily for service opportunities.

He enjoyed playing and watching soccer. Jesus, he was an avid martial arts enthusiast.  He loved all things Bruce lee, star trek, old westerns and the Incredible Hulk. Above all things he Love the Savior and His Family.

Jesus is preceded in Death by his Parents Esteban Rivas and Petra Rodriguez. Daughter Jessica Rivas and Son George Rivas.

He is survived by his wife Adelina Garcia Rivas of Globe, AZ, Daughter Juliette Rivas of San Antonio, TX, Jesus Rivas Jr, of Mesa, AZ, Jennie Hernandez (Marc) of San Antonio, TX.  Nine Grand Children and two Great Grand Children.

VISITATION WILL BE SATURDAY, AUG. 21, 2021 FROM 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM AT THE RELIEF SOCIETY ROOM OF THE LDS STAKE CENTER IN GLOBE, WHERE SERVICES WILL FOLLOW AT 10:00 AM.

BURIAL WILL FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY AT GLOBE CEMETERY.