Lee M. Rivera, 73, of Port Lavaca passed away August 17, 2020 in Cedar Park. He was born May 22, 1947 in Robstown, TX to Guadalupe Rodriguez Rivera and Mary Guadalupe Minjares Rivera. Lee was a Calhoun High School graduate and proudly served in the US Marine Corp where he fought in the Battle of Hue as an 81st mortarman during the Vietnam war. Lee was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. He went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Houston-Victoria. He enjoyed a career in instrumentation at the local plants before co-founding Dolphin Instruments in Corpus Christi. He then worked for Testingeer in Port Lavaca working frequently overseas in Cabinda, Angola. “Mr. Lee”, as known by many, was a successful business owner for over 50 years from the popular Wildfire and Margaritaville to his current venture, LMR Bar and Billiards. He had been a proud member of the Billiard Congress of America for 30 years where he held the position of Director frequently. Lee was elected as City Council member in 2004 in District 3 and retired the position in 2017. During his time in office, he helped pass ordinances such as banning smoking and extending drinking hours to 2 a.m. in Port Lavaca.
He is survived by his children: Robert J. Rivera, Monica L. Rivera, Byanka L. Rosa (Chon), and Joshua R. Rivera (Jennifer); step-son, Cody J. Miller (Lisa); brothers, Joe M. Rivera (Mary), Richard Rivera, Albert C. Rivera (Martha), and Javier C. Rivera (Leslie); grandchildren, Cheyanne B. Lucio, Christopher L. Mungia, Joseph Rivera, Dylan Rivera, Amanda V. Rivera, Shawn P. Mungia, and Cienna Rosa; and great-granddaughters Sophia Eigsti and Bay Lucio.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert M. Rivera.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 23, 2020 from 5-7 p.m. with a rosary to begin at 7 p.m. at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be Monday, August 24, 2020 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church with Father James officiating. Burial will follow in Port Lavaca cemetery with Military Honors under the auspices of the Calhoun County Veterans Joint Honor Guard.
Pallbearers are Matius D. Rivera, Jacob R. Rivera, Xavier O. Rivera, Christopher L. Mungia, Dylan Rivera, Joseph Rivera, Elijah J. Rivera, Shawn P. Mungia. Honorary pallbearers are Joe A. Rivera, Guadalupe Rivera, Guadalupe A. Rivera, Alex J. Rivera, Lee Bargas, and Jakob Bargas
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.
