Obituaries

Nicolas Torres
Services for Nicolas Torres, 43, of Kaufman, were held Sept. 8, 2011, at Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral Home Chapel in Kaufman with the Rev. Scott Smith of Faith Family Church officiating. Interment followed in Kemp Cemetery, under the direction of Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral Home in Kaufman.
Torres was born July 12, 1968, to Rosa and Enrique Torres and died on Sept. 5, 2011.
He was a Christian, lived life to the fullest and always had a smile on his face.
Torres loved to draw, fish and spend time with friends and family.
He attended Kaufman school and worked with troubled youth as a mentor at area group homes.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Survivors include his wife, Maria; children Dustin Nicolas and Haylee Torres; mother Rosa Torres; sisters Toni Torres and Margaret Ortiz; one niece, three nephews, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and his beloved dog, Dingo.

Christopher Rivera
Services for Christopher Paul Rivera, 33, of Mabank, were held Sept. 10, 2011, at the Tomlinson Funeral Home Chapel in Seven Points. Interment followed in the Payne Springs Cemetery, under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points.
Rivera was born Dec. 13, 1977, in Dallas to Janie and Paul Rivera and died Sept. 4, 2011.
He was a student at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens.
Survivors include his wife, Kimberly Rivera; son Shaw Boulware, Mabank; daughters Nichole and Siena Rivera, Mabank; parents Janie and Paul Rivera, Mabank; sisters Rosalinda Villanueva, Petra Hernandez, Juanita Gonzales and Margie Aragon; and brother Emiliano Licona.

Melda Barak
Melda Ruth Barak, 68 years old, of Gun Barrel City, passed away at her residence September 5, 2011. She was born November 29, 1942 in Lamar County, Texas, daughter of Robert Edward & Hazel Marie (Burnette) Irion.
She worked for years at the Dallas County Community Center and Senior Citizen Center and she was a member of St. James On The Lake Episcopal Church of Kemp. Services will be held at a later date.
Survivors include a son, David L. Barak & wife Peggy or Chili, Wisconsin; daughter Melda Marie Barak of Gun Barrel City; 6 grandchildren, Melissa, Alton, Ryan, Emily, Tralena and David; brothers Pat Crook & wife Sandy of Dallas, Newt Michael of Paris, and James Michael of Paris; sisters, Katherine Jackson of Balch Springs and Darlene Michael of Kansas. Her parents, 1 brother and 2 sisters preceded her in death.
Condolences may be offered at www.eubank cedar creek.com.