It is reported with great sadness that Doris A. Rivela (née Harvey) passed away on the afternoon of Friday, March 9, 2018, after a long, valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.  She was 71 years of age.  Doris is survived by her husband, Raymond G. Rivela and their son, Douglas.

Doris was born in Phoenix, Arizona on February 19, 1947 to Helen Juanita and Charlie Luther Harvey.  She was raised in a small farming community 26 miles west of Phoenix.  At the time of her birth her father and mother lived and worked in a Cotton Camp.  Doris grew up learning the meaning of hard work and strong moral values.  Doris was educated in the Maricopa County School System.  She was a very good student.  In her eighth grade graduation Doris was tops in her class of 150 students and was Valedictorian in High School, as well as President of the National Honor Society.

After graduation, she enlisted in the United States Navy at 18 years of age. She was sent to Bainbridge, MD for basic training and then sent to Newport, RI for Payroll School.  Doris fell in love with Newport.  It became one of her life-long favorite places. The Navy transferred Doris to Memphis, TN where she was assigned to the Payroll Department. There she met the love of her life and future husband.  Doris and Ray were married June 30, 1967 in a small church just outside the base.  The next year they had their only child, Douglas.  They were married for over 50 years when Doris passed.

Doris worked in the elder care field for over sixteen years, including for Beverly Enterprises Inc., starting in Fitchburg, MA as a nurse's aide, and then graduating to activities director and then holding important office manager positions at Beverly in both MA and FL.  In Ormond Beach, FL she was office manager at the Family Century 21 office from 1997-2018, where she was considered the organizational wizard by the real estate agents and office staff who worked with her.

Doris enjoyed gardening, quilting and crafts.  One of her favorite pastimes was antiquing with her son, Douglas.  Doris loved to read, and was a huge fan of the romantic novels of Barbara Cartland and the espionage thrillers of Dave Baldacci. She loved to travel, especially visiting the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina. She was a lover of small-town Americana, and was rarely happier than when visiting such quant historical places as Newport, RI, Gettysburg, PA, and especially St. Augustine, FL.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday March 24, 2018 at Lohman Funeral Home Ormond, 733 West Granada Blvd. in Ormond Beach;  with Father Isaac Bassily officiating.  A visitation will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m., prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the American Cancer Society in Doris' name. Arrangements entrusted to Lohman Funeral Home Ormond.  Condolences are welcome to be shared with Doris' family via this online guestbook.