Patti Rivers

A memorial service for Mrs. Patti Rivers, 71, of Downsville, LA, will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, November 27, 2023, at First Methodist Church in Monroe, LA, with Rev. ­­­Hank Hamilton officiating, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Rd., Monroe, LA. A gathering of family and friends will be held following the service at 3:00 P.M. at Bayou Desiard Country Club in Monroe.

Beloved wife of Jack Rivers, adored mother of Amonica and John and stepchildren Dawn, Ray and Robin. Together Jack and Patti treasured their combined five children, ten grandchildren and three precious great grandchildren.

Patti left us much too early after a year-long battle with cancer and will be missed more than words can express. She was born Patcile Inez Skipper in Lawton, Oklahoma. After losing their mother, Inez, at an early age in 1956, Patti and her two brothers, Farrell and Terry, moved to Alford, Florida where they were raised by their loving grandparents, Frank and Maggie Mashburn.

After a brief marriage, Patti moved to New Orleans to raise her two children, Amonica and John Richardson. In 1976, Patti and Jack met in Lake Tahoe and the two were rarely apart from that moment forward. They wed and settled in Jack’s hometown of Monroe, Louisiana, in January 1980. This was the beginning of a marriage that lasted over 43 years.

Above all else, Patti was devoted to Jack, her partner in life. She loved her family as she loved life and lived it to the fullest. A wonderful cook, Patti loved to entertain and enjoyed nothing more than a full house with friends and family around the table. Patti’s favorite day of the year was Thanksgiving. One of her last wishes was to have the family gather on that special day. We were grateful to all be together.

Patti was also an active member of the Farmerville Methodist Church and the Lake D’Arbonne Chapel of which she was President. She enjoyed her church community and greatly appreciated their support this last year.

Patti is survived by her husband Jack; children Amonica Richardson Rupe and John Richardson; stepchildren Dawn Rivers Sarasin, Ray and Amy Rivers, Mike and Robin Rivers Keller Daly; grandchildren Grant and Griffin Rupe, Parker Richardson, Tatiana Sarasin, Hakan and Alexandra Sarasin Veyrat, Christophe Sarasin, Jack and Kristen Rivers, Ted and Kara Rivers Helfrich, Sydney Rivers, and Audrey Keller; and three great-grandchildren, Adem Veyrat, Ethan Veyrat, and Louisa Helfrich.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Dr. Ronnie Woods, Dr. Larry Danna, Dr. David Bryan and Patti’s healthcare team at Ochsner Hospital for their capable and loving care. In addition, the family is grateful to Kellie Jones and her team who worked closely with hospice to provide comfort and support in Patti’s final days. And finally, Patti wished to thank Pat Gix, Charlotte Herrington, Cheryl Stephens and Armando Selinas for their devotion and years of support.