Richard Velasco Rivera, the Son of the late Lorenza Velasco Rivera, and Jose B. Rivera of Pirtleville. Passed away on April 8, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. He is preceded in death by his siblings: Joe Rivera, Rosalina Carranza, Cecilia Rivera and survived by sister Leilia(Lilly) Rivera, all of Douglas. Nieces, Patricia, Viviana, and Liliana Rivera; and Carol, Rosemary, and Sylvia (Velasquez) Corrales; Nephews, Victor, Larry, and Mark Corrales, along with many grandnieces and grandnephews. From the time he was in the third grade, his desire was to be a soldier. During the Vietnam conflict he quit his job as an Orderly at Cochise County Hospital to train at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, and Camp Pendleton, California. The first four years he served in an infantry weapons platoon. The other eighteen and a half years of his career, he served his country as a Combat Photographer, and a Staff Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge of Audio Visual Centers World Wide. His military duties as a documentary took him to many foreign countries. His preferred countries were the beauty of the Vatican, the old European customs of Spain, and the warm crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Islands. His formal education took place at Coastal Carolina Community College, North Carolina, San Diego Community College, Central Arizona College, Staff Non-Commissioned Officer's Academy at Marine Corps Development and Education Center, Quantico Virginia and United States Naval School of Photography at Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. After being extended twice due to the Persian Gulf War, he received his Honorable Discharge in September 1994, and returned home to Douglas where he started managing properties, and developing new family dwellings in his childhood barrio, also at Bay Acres and in Pirtleville, Arizona. He enjoyed everything outdoors, his hobbies included: Auto Mechanics, Carpentry, and Gardening. He cherished all animals, especially his dogs. He was an avid reader, studying Catholicism, American History, Mexican History, the war between the United States and Mexico, and the United States Civil War. A man of faith and peace, always striving for self- improvement, Richard, rest in peace. Religious Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Chapel on Saturday May 13, 2017 with a Rosary being recited at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 10:00 a.m. Interment of his ashes will follow at the Pirtleville Cemetery's Veterans' Section.