Linda Rivas

Linda Rivas was born Linda Kay Alford on January 22, 1969 in Pasadena, Texas, to Thomas Richard “Dick” Alford, and Nelda Alford.  Around 1980, the Alford Family moved to West Columbia, Texas and Linda was in the class of 1987 of Columbia High School. In 1988, she had enrolled at Brazosport College, where she became friends with Geoff Samuels and married him on May 27, 1989; they divorced August 16, 1991.  She then married George Randall Butler on November 1, 1991, and with him had two children:  William Randall Butler and Bryan Robert Butler.  They divorced in January 24, 2013.

Not long after, she found her college friend, Leary Rivas, Jr. on Facebook and the two became a couple, and began a long journey of adventure and love.  They weathered distance, Hurricane Harvey, and many other things.  Linda was a lover of animals and had cats and dogs.  She also loved open waters, particularly along the Gulf of Mexico, and she also enjoyed traveling, antiquing, and later she found much enjoyment in the local Jeep groups that she and Leary were members of.  She and Leary were wedded on January 27, 2021, and enjoyed the time they had together, despite Linda’s cancer worsening.  She fought valiantly, until succumbing to it on July 19, 2021 with her husband by her side, holding her hand when she left this world.

She is survived by her mother, Nelda; husband, Leary B. Rivas, Jr.; sons, William Randall Butler and Bryan Robert Butler; her Aunt, Sherry Castle; her USMC veteran uncle, Michael Castle; her oldest brother, Steve Alford and his fiancée, Danna Squires; and Steve’s children, Fiona Price (nee Alford) and her husband, Jay Price, and their daughter Brawnwyn; Joram Alford and his girlfriend Kaytlin Millikin; brother, Robert Alford and his wife Sandy Alford, and their children, son Travis Alford and his fiancée Mallory Rhoades and daughter Madelyn Alford; her father-in-law, Leary Rivas, Sr.; sisters-in-law Trinae Rivas, Rohnea Hartsell, and Lorissa Wallace; and brother-in-law, Derrell Rivas.

She is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Richard Alford; sister-in-law, Carol Alford; mother-in-law, Ruby Maria Rivas; brother-in-law, Brennon Michael Rivas; and nephew-in-law, Maxwell Warren Rivas.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones on Thursday, July 22, 2021 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at C.T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home, with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m.

The Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 23, 2021 at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 807 Loggins St., West Columbia, Texas with Father Preston Quintela officiating.

The Rite of Committal will follow in Cedar Lawn Haven of Rest Cemetery in West Columbia.