Richard Roberts Service

Welcome & Prayer

On behalf of the Roberts Family, I would like to thank everyone for coming to show their love and support and to honor and celebrate the life of Richard Roberts.

Let us pray.

Reading of the Obituary

Richard Roberts

was 66 years old

He was Born April 29, 1956 in California

and he Passed away on May 1, 2022 in Colorado

He was a Resident of Socorro, NM

Richard was a loving husband, dad, step-dad, grandpa, brother, uncle and great friend.

He was a hardworking man, always willing to lend a hand.

He is proceeded in death by his only son Michael, mother Christina, father Jack Sr., sister Linda and brother Curtis

Survived by wife, Silvia. Daughters Michelle, Valerie and Amanda

Grandchildren Dylan, Aaliyah, Ashlee, Katlynn, Vanessa, Marissa, Aaron Jr., Estevan, LeeShell and Michael Jr. Five great-grandkids.

Brothers Jack Jr. and Leroy. Sisters Kathy, Barbara and Yvonne

Several niece’s and nephew’s

scripture reading - Laura Taylor

Eulogy by Michelle Roberts

Dad,

I could go on for hours talking about all our good times and memories but I know you were a very fast paced man so I will try to keep it short and sweet.

I was definitely a daddy’s girl! As old as I am, you called me “kid” until the very end, thank you for always making feel so young.

I will cherish every memory from the time I was a little girl to the day you said “goodbye”

As a child, I remember all the mantanzas we had, including the block parties and live bands. Our vacation to Disneyland and when the bird pooped on your head, it wasn’t pleasant but you didn’t let it ruin our day. You were always my biggest fan during dance recitals. You drove me all the way to Florida to start a new life and just a few weeks later I returned home….I was nervous you’d be upset but deep down I knew you were glad I was back.

You were always my handy man. No matter what it was I asked you to do, you did it. From building a huge domino for the float in the Christmas parade, to all the work you did at my house. You really doubted me when told you I purchased another single-wide because I wanted a double-wide. The first thing you asked me was “did you measure anything?” Of course I didn’t, you already knew me. When it was all done, you were very happy and amazed with the outcome. Last year I jokingly said I wanted my whole trailer and porch painted a different color. You showed up the next day bright and early with paint ready to work. When I would call, you would tell your friends “my second wife is calling” they immediately knew it was me. I probably had more of a “honey-do” list than your own wife did. We used to tease you about being the most valued customer at Raks because you were there every day and one day it would be named after you.

Your hard working hands are at rest now.

My kids were your world! You were always so proud of Dylan, especially when he was out on that football field and when he graduated. You were a true Warrior fan! You made sure to attend every game possible, near and far. You even made sure the landscaping at the Warrior stadium looked great before the state game. When you bought your truck, you said it was blue for the Warriors. I am so glad you taught him a few carpentry skills because I will need a new handy man. Dylan was your favorite barber.

Aaliyah had you wrapped around her little finger. You loved attending her dance recitals, you just didn’t like how grown up she looked with makeup on. You teased her about eating too many Happy Meals but you loved nuggets just as much as she does. Over the last year, Tony became a second son to you. You were always confused and speechless with the crazy things he would say and you would just shake your head and call him “coconut”. We will always remember the way you used to scroll through Facebook and Instagram, reading the chisme, laughing at every meme you came across.

You were definitely a fighter! You were always on the go and working so it was hard to watch you sit in a hospital for over eight weeks fighting such a horrible disease. You did your best to not let it bring you down. You still joked around and loved taking silly snapchat pictures and sending them to Tony.

It is such a blessing to know you gave your life to God before you took your last breath.

You will always be my hero! I love you dad! Rest in Peace! Give Michael a big hug for me!

Prayer - Leroy Roberts

Message - Death is Hard

I want to say thank you again for everyone coming to show their love and respect for Richard and his family. These are times when the family needs the love and encouragement and support of their friends to come alongside them. Death, while it is a part of life, is always difficult and hard.

In the Bible we find examples of people crying, mourning, and hurting.

One such example was a friend of Jesus Himself, Lazarus.

John 11:17–21 ESV

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

Why is death so hard?

1. Death is hard because it is so personal.

a. People die every day, but when it is someone you know and love, it hurts.

We know because of the world we live in that death is something that we all experience and that there are people every day who die. But there is a difference between knowing that there are people who are dying and then experiencing the death of someone we personally know and love. The death of someone we love is painful because we are now separated from the relationship we have shared with them.

I want you to know this morning that it is alright to grieve and to mourn the passing of someone we love.

Mary and Martha deeply loved their brother and were grieving his loss because of how much they loved him and cared for him. you are here this morning because of your relationship with Richard and because you love and care for him. Death is hard because we are separated from and having to say good bye to someone we have cared for.

2. Death is hard because it is so final.

a. We are often separated from people we love, but we look forward to seeing them again. Death means final separation.

Of course, we are used to having to say good bye to loved ones when they leave to go home or go on vacation. The good bye that comes from death is a more final good bye.

This is where Mary and Martha are. While they were believers in Jesus and knew Lazarus was too and that they would one day see him again, it was still hard because they knew it would be a long time before they could see him again. Death is hard and it is alright to grieve and miss our loved ones.

3. Death is hard because it is so otherworldly.

a. Death causes us to think about what is “out there.”

Death is hard because this is not how God originally designed this world to be. God created this world to be good and perfect and life was meant to be forever. However, death came into the world when Adam and Eve rebelled against God. Death is a direct result of the sin of humanity.

Death is something we all will have to face one day. Because of this sin broken world we live in, we must be ready for that day ourselves. So as we mourn we must also ask ourselves am I ready for that day?

b. There is more to life than what we see.

There is good news. God did not leave us in this hopeless condition. While we all still physically experience death, God is still the Creator of life and wants us to experience life forever. And so there is more to this life and death than what we see. Death does not have to be the final say. Death is the entrance into eternity, either into the eternal presence of Christ or into the eternal separation from Him.

How can we experience life forever with God?

c. There is one who came from that other world to give us life after death (John 3:16).

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God sent Jesus into this world to take on the penalty and punishment for our sin. He has offered us the gift of eternal life by dying upon the cross for our sin. All we have to do is to receive this gift by placing our faith and trust in Him. Look what John 3:16 says, “whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Death is hard, but it does not have to have the final say over our lives.

If Richard were here right now, he would plead with us to make sure we have a relationship with Christ by placing our faith and trust in Him alone. Death is hard, but it doesn’t have to be final.

4. Death is hard because it hurts.

a. We cry and we feel pain deep inside, but there is help.

b. God wants to comfort and care for you (Psalm 42:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).

Psalm 42:1–5 (ESV)

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my food day and night,

while they say to me all the day long,

“Where is your God?”

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:

how I would go with the throng

and lead them in procession to the house of God

with glad shouts and songs of praise,

a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Because of Christ, death does not have to be final. And while death is hard and death still hurts, there can also be comfort in the midst of death. Christ is here walking with us through this time providing comfort and hope for us in the midst of the pain and the hurt.

in the story of Lazarus and Mary and Martha, we see that even Jesus weeps with them. John 11:35

John 11:35 ESV

Jesus wept.

John 11:36 ESV

So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

Jesus knows our hurts and weeps with us. His presence is continually with us providing comfort for those who seek him and trust him.

As we trust in Christ we can place our hope in God that there is eternal life to be had that continues on past death for all those who believe. And We can trust in a Savior who provides comfort in the midst of our affliction.

Do you long to have the hope of eternal life and know that death does not have to be final? Do you long for the comfort that comes in the midst of the pain that death brings? Jesus is inviting you to come and believe in Him and find the life and comfort that only He can give.

Jesus told Martha in John 11:23-26

John 11:23–26 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

While we all must physically die, there is life for those who are found in Christ. If there’s anyone here who has not placed their faith and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord, I would love to share with you how you can do that today. And I know Richard would want us to make sure that we are right in our relationship with Christ and to experience the peace and the hope that comes from knowing Christ.

Prayer

Dismissal