Laura Rivera

Coats, NC:  Laura Esther Guzman de Rivera, 92, passed into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ on October 24, 2015 at her home in Coats. She was born November 22, 1922 in Corozal, Puerto Rico to Francisco and Gertrudis Guzman.  She was a lifelong Christian and enjoyed sharing her faith with others. She met and married Obdulio, her late husband of almost 47 years, in Corozal, Puerto Rico. She reared 5 children following her soldier-husband through military tours in France, Germany, and various stateside posts. She waited and prayed as he deployed to WWII, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War.  She also waited and prayed for each son and several grandchildren as they too served in the military. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and son, Julio. Survivors include two sons, Rafael Rivera (Bonnie) of Concord, Luis Rivera (Renee) of Killeen, Texas, and two daughters, Elsa Sears Clayton (C.T.) of Coats, and Carmen Malone of the home, thirteen grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be conducted at a graveside service at eleven o’clock on the morning of Thursday, October 29, 2015 at Cumberland Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville.  Her son, Sergeant Major (Ret.) Luis E. Rivera and grandson, Captain Joshua H. Rivera, will officiate.   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). The family will receive visitors at the home of Jason Sears and Carmen Malone in Coats.