Juanita Frances Rivers

Juanita Frances rivers grew up a Texas farm girl. She rode a bull named “Bully” and loved her goats. She passed away June 30, 2021.

Juanita had a passion for painting, writing, and sewing. She would paint strangers out of photos when producing a final work of art. And we all agree that we learned our first curse words by mimicking mom’s interactions with her Bernina.

She is preceded in death by her parents Goldie and Marion, the grandparents that raised her Lily and Ernest as well as her children Pamela, Joseph, and Mary.

Family was very important to Juanita, she continuously planned family get-togethers such as murder mysteries, Mexican fiestas and our favorite, everyone was to write a poem about another family member, and we’d guess who it was about. Poems about mom always included cats and she was “that weird cat lady”.

But cats weren’t her only humanitarian cause, in fact she donated to so many charities that all of us had at least three calendars and various “thank you” gifts.

Mom’s generosity did not stop at charities, she was always filling her kids houses with things she knew they needed, a French Provincial nightstand comes to mind.

Juanita had degrees in art and accounting although she couldn’t cut it as an IRS field agent because she was too nice.  She worked in some odd places, “a navy yard with no boats” and “an airbase with no planes”, she joked.

She would go to extremes to keep the peace; one time sticking a BBQ rib in her nose to get the kids attention and diffuse a silly argument.

Juanita’s survivors include her husband Dan, a son Marshall, two daughters Shirley Condreay (Larry, son-in-law) and Celia Norman (Doug, son-in-law); five grandchildren and their spouses; fourteen great-grandchildren and numerous kitties.

Rest in peace mom, we love you so much.

 
Memorial service will be held on Wednesday July 14, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Drinkwine Family Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: alleycat.org/more-ways-to-give-3/pay-tribute/

 

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