Beatrice Rivers, born in New York City in 1918, passed away in Beaumont, Texas, on January 4, 2013. Her parents were Russian and Romanian immigrants who moved the family from New York to Oakland, California, where Beatrice and her brother attended Oakland Technical High School.

During World War II, Beatrice worked in a Defense Plant making crystals for fighter pilots' radios. Subsequently, she worked at Montgomery Ward Department Store. In 1949, she wed Troy Rivers, a master technician from Oklahoma, who would die in 1984. In 1950, she gave birth to her only child, son Kenneth Rivers. Beatrice lived the rest of her life in Oakland, remaining highly independent until moving to Beaumont to live with her son and her daughter-in-law, Dianna Rivers in June, 2012. Beatrice spent the last three weeks of her life at Calder Woods and Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont.

Her great passion was gardening, and for decades people admired her flowers, trees, and well-groomed yard. She also was an expert on figurines and dolls. Everyone loved her cooking, particularly her specialty, braised lamb shanks.

A family committal for Mrs. Rivers will be held Sunday, January 6, 2013, at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her final resting place will be Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory should be made to Lamar University. For further information, contact Kenneth and Dianna Rivers at lipprivers@yahoo.com.