Oliver Araiza

Oliver L. Araiza, 72, was born on Feb. 9, 1937 and was taken home to be with the Lord on July 29, 2009 at Baylor Garland in Garland, TX. Born in Beeville, TX, Oliver lived most of his life in and around the Dallas area. He met and fell in love with Mary Perez in Princeton, TX. They married on October 17, 1955. Oliver and Mary would have celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in October. Oliver was a carpenter by trade and immensely enjoyed his work. He was a life long member of Open Door Baptist Church. He served in the bus ministry for more than 30 years, resulting in thousands of children going to church and many coming to know the Lord as Saviour. Oliver is survived by his wife Mary (Perez) Araiza, sister Aurora (Araiza) Benavidez of Ferris, TX and six children, 3 sons, Oliver Jr. and wife Kim, Larry and wife Sylvia, Daniel and wife Victoria, 3 daughters, Dora and husband Doug Sewell, Linda and husband Tim Smith, Lisa and husband Joe Hiroms, 6 grandsons, Oliver III and wife Joanna, Joel Araiza, Daniel Araiza II, Jedidiah, Samuel and Levi Hiroms, 9 grand-daughters, Sarah and husband Keith Hendricks, Andrea and husband Kris Toney, Christina Araiza, Erin Smith, Ashley Danielle and husband Jimmy Gunn, Angela Araiza, Morgan and Madison Smith and Isabell Araiza, 4 great-grandchildren, Brooklyn Hendricks, Oliver Araiza IV, Ethan Hendricks and Lucas Araiza. Oliver will be greatly missed by family and friends alike. The family would like to extend a heartfelt Thank you to Dr. Khan and the staff of Baylor Garland for their wonderful care of our precious Dad. Visitation will be on Friday, July 31 at the New Hope Funeral Home, 500 East Hwy 80 Sunnyvale, TX, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. There will be a celebration of life on August 1, 10:00am at Open Door Baptist Church, 1212 S. Beltline in Mesquite, TX 75149.