Juan Rivera Salazar

Juan R. Salazar was born on April 16th, 1926. To Juan and Santos Rivera Salazar in Hidalgo, Mexico. He worked on his family farm and eventually migrated to the United States as a young man working as a Farm Worker and Cattle Ranch Hand. He traveled to various states in the U.S. including Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas—following his work and in pursuit of the “American Dream” for a better life for his wife and children. Juan, his wife Maria, and their children settled in Ozark, Arkansas in May of 1959 where Juan continued to work on various farms and ranches. Juan and Maria fulfilled their dream of becoming U.S. citizens on August 28th, 1968. Juan worked for the Corps of Engineers at Ozark Lock and Dam and eventually worked as a Forest Service Technician and National Firefighter for the Ozark National Forest-Boston Mountain Ranger District from October of 1974 to April of 1984 from which he retired. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Altus, Arkansas. Juan was a proud Christian and American. He loved to be outdoors, gardening, raising farm animals, building things, and working his land. He loved his wife, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with all of his heart. Juan was always helping anyone in need and gave to others no matter how little he had. Above all Juan loved his Heavenly Father and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. He lived each day to the fullest and gave God all the glory for everything he had in life. He taught his children and grandchildren how to work hard and make sacrifices for the things you wanted in life, how to love, forgive, pray, and above all live with the joy and hope of Jesus Christ in your heart—to Juan, "everyday was a good day.” Juan passed away from this life with his loving wife of sixty-four years by his side, along with his children and many other family members on February 28th, 2016, in Clarksville, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Juan and Santos Rivera Salazar; his brothers Perfecto, Santos, Jorge, and Jesus Salazar; his sisters Jesusa, Ernestina, Clara, and Luce Salazar; his son in law David R. Norris; two grandsons David R. Norris II and Preston Riley; and one great grandson Brennan James Tull. He is survived by his wife Maria Salazar of the home, brother Tomas and wife Juanita Salazar of Van Buren, AR.; Sisters Rosa, Feliz, and Martina Salazar of Mexico; Sister in Law Christina Salazar of Ozark; Children Maggie Higgins and husband Avery, of Ozark, Lety Salazar of Ozark, Charlie Salazar and wife Rocio of Ozark, Jose Salazar of Ozark, Ricky Salazar and wife Vicky of Mulberry, Maria “Pita” Jones and husband Tom of Fayetteville N.C., Mickey Salazar and wife Laura of Ozark, Juanita Horne and husband Vernon of Ozark.; Grandchildren Daniel Tull, Jessica Brown, Nicholas Norris, Trenta Norris, Elijah Salazar, Evan Salazar, Raphael Salazar, Mandy Salazar, Lynda McCollum, Rikki Tryba, Ethan Morton, Zack Case, Xavier Salazar, Savanna Salazar, Olivia Salazar, Andrea Murphy, Rachel Murphy, Matthew Sword, Chris Salazar, Tristan Salazar, Asha Brantley, Chance Savell, Chelsea Riley, Ashley Russell, Anissa Horne, and Joel David Horne; Twenty seven great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, a host of in laws, great friends, and church family. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Altus, Arkansas, with burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery under direction of Shaffer Funeral Home. Rosary service will be held at 6:30 PM Tuesday, March 1st at St. Mary’s Catholic Church followed by visitation from 7:00 until 8:00 PM. Serving as pallbearers are Nicholas Norris, Raphael Salazar, Chance Savell, Xavier and Elijah Salazar and Joel David Horne.

Juan Rivera Salazar

April 16, 1926 - March 2, 2016