May 9 Obituaries

Leonard Bryant, 80

Mr. Leonard Bryant, 80, died early Saturday morning, May 8, 2004 at Roosevelt General Hospital.

He was born on Sept. 22, 1923, in Claude, Okla., to Addie Frances and Edgar Arnold Bryant.

He moved to Portales as a boy and attended school in Portales. On May 11, 1944, he married Annie Ruth Petree shortly after entering the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS Kenton, which was a troop transport ship. Leonard drove the Amphibious Personnel Assault Vehicles taking troops to shore in the battle for Okinawa. He was on many of the small islands in the Pacific during the War. After returning to Portales he worked for Sacra Brothers Propane Company, which later became Arrow Gas. He retired as manager in 1989 after 38 years with the company. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and served as a deacon for many years. He was an avid fisherman and also enjoyed hunting. Family members said he was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather and widely known in the community for his gregarious personality and his love of people.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Carl, J. H. and Dinzle Bryant; two sons, Wayland Bryant who died Nov. 8, 1949 and Dewayne Bryant who died Mar. 27, 2004; and by his wife, who died July 29, 1996, after more than 52 years of marriage.

Survivors include one son and two daughters-in-law, Larry (wife, Terry) Bryant of Portales and Pat Bryant of Clovis; five grandchildren, Jody Burrage, Shawnna Varney, Brea (Chris) Bennett, Brad Bryant, and Kim Bryant; and six great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Kaitlyn and Chelsea Varney, Cannon and Gunner Burrage and Dylan Bryant.

Service are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Calvary Baptist Church in Portales.

Burial will be in Portales Cemetery. The Revs. Galen Isaacs and Rev. Roy Roach will officiate the services. Bill Brown, Joe Turner, Andy Wall, Gary Robbins, Zeph Roberson and Richard Robbins will serve as pallbearers.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary in Portales.

Gilbert Rivera, 84

Mr. Gilbert G. Rivera, 84, of Portales, died early Saturday morning, May 8, 2004, at Heartland Continuing Care Center.

He was born on Aug. 23, 1919, at Benavides, Texas, to Lucia and Epitacio Benavides Rivera.

He grew up in Benavides where he was an active trumpet player, playing in various bands including mariachi. He served in the U.S. Army stationed in Deming where his duties included being a service bugler. While in Deming, he met and married Mary Salinas in 1940.

After returning to Benavides, he owned and operated a gas station for several years. In 1950, he moved to El Paso, Texas, and worked in construction before moving to Portales in 1963 and worked as a concrete company supervisor until 1963, when he was disabled by a car accident. He was an active parishioner at St. Helen Catholic Church and taught conversational Spanish.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, James Edward Rivera; five brothers, Jose, Epitacio, Pedro, Francisco, and Oscar; and two sisters, Paula and Rafaela.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Gilbert Rivera, Jr. of Portales and Rick Rivera of Las Cruces; seven daughters, Mary Lou Fonseca of Las Cruces, Patricia Johnson of Orange County, Calif., Frances (husband, Marty) Franco of Roswell, Margaret (Russ) Rugh of Westminster, Calif., Gracy Leary of Portales, Rebecca (Joe) Allen of Orange County, and Gina (Rob) Boydton of Moreno Valley, Calif.; 25 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Alberto Ortega, Mario Franco, John Franco, Danny Leary, Ronald Fonseca, and Robert Herrera. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Robert Timmons and the staff of Heartland Continuing Care Center.

Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Helen Catholic Church in Clovis.

A rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at St. Helen Catholic Church in Portales. The Rev. Tobin Hitt will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary in Portales.

Obituary Policy

The Portales News-Tribune does not charge to publish obituaries. Space constraints and deadlines may limit what is published. Information for obituaries must come from funeral homes.