Maria was born October 17, 1927 in Cayey Puerto Rico to Artemia and Rafael Rivera.  She passed away June 2021. She met her future husband Chris, an army sergeant, in San Juan.  They were married in 1944 and moved to Springfield to raise a family.

Maria was an active volunteer at University Heights Church where she served on numerous committees and many outreach programs.  She and Chris were very generous and caring people.

Maria was also involved in the Spanish community in Springfield. Being one of the first Spanish speaking people in Springfield she knew how lonely people could be to speak their native language.  She opened her home to students from Latin countries who where studying at Drury and SMSU to join her family for dinner and conversations.

Chris taught Maria how to fly-fish. They were very competitive with who could catch the biggest fish.  One year Maria took home the trophy and had her fish mounted for all to see.  She had that fish on her wall until she passed away.

Maria lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures like teaching all the females in the family to cook, traveling to different parts of the country to see children and grandchildren and planting her beautiful flowerpots.

Maria will be remembered for her love of Latin music, her amazing Christmas Eve family dinners and her devotion to her husband.

She is survived and will be missed by her loving family: daughters Sue Lewis, Ana Walle (Vandoran), Elisa Bridwell and son Phillip Bridwell; grandchildren Mary Lovelady, Maria Elisa Rios, Corrina Knight, Rochelle Meisner, Tia Walle; great grandchildren Jonathan Weber, Jessica Weber, Harley Young, Christopher Rios, Emily Rios, Leyana Knight, Mariah Knight, Max Meisner, Ben Meisner, Emma Meisner and three great grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister Nilvia and many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.   She was preceded in death by her husband Chris, Brother Raphael, Sister Ana Delia and son-in-law John Lewis.