Melvin Leroy Rives

Funeral services for Melvin Rives, 82-year-old Buffalo resident who passed away Wednesday at the Big Horn Rehabilitation and Care Center in Sheridan, will be held Monday, July 21 at 2:00 p.m. at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo with Pastor Mike Leibee officiating. Visitation will be held from the funeral home chapel on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Interment will be in Willow Grove Cemetery with graveside rites to follow the service. Donations in Melvin's memory may be made to the Buffalo High School FFA program at 29891 Old Highway 87 in Buffalo. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.
Melvin LeRoy Rives was born on October 30, 1942, in Buffalo, Wyoming to Loren and Gladys Rives. He grew up and went to school in Buffalo and graduated from Johnson County High School with the class of 1961. After high school Melvin went to work at the UM Ranch. He was married to Patsy Jean Miller on December 23, 1968, in Gillette, Wyoming and they made their home in Buffalo. Melvin went to work for the Esponda Ranch on Clear Creek where he worked for two years before taking a ranching job with the Reynold's Mining Company Ranch North of Buffalo, which later became the Texaco Ranch. Melvin retired from Texaco in 2003, and they moved into Buffalo where they lived until his death.
Melvin was an avid horseman and loved rodeo. He also enjoyed fishing and spending time in the mountains.
He is survived by his wife Patsy of Buffalo; one son Ricky Rives of Gillette, Wyoming; two daughters Melanie Rives and her husband Eric of Truckee, California and Dreama Rives of Fort Worth, Texas; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Gary and Dick.