FRANKFORT - William M. Rivers, age 47, of Westlake Avenue, passed away unexpectedly on Christmas morning, December 25, 2001. He was born on July 8, 1954 in Herkimer, son of Earl H. "Mike" Rivers and the late Dorothy Bowie Rivers. A lifelong Herkimer resident, he was a graduate of Herkimer High School "Class of 1972". Upon his completion of high school, he went to work for the Remington Arms Co., in Ilion. He then went on to serve in the U.S. Navy. After his military service he enrolled in Mohawk Valley Community College where he graduated with a degree in Surveying Engineering. Until 1992, he was employed with the New York State Department of Transportation. A member of the First United Methodist Church, Herkimer, he had a strong belief in God and led a devoted Methodist life. Surviving are his father; Earl H. "Mike" Rivers, of Herkimer; two sisters and their husbands, Sandra and Richard Sullivan, of Oriskany and Sheila and Robert E. Kennedy, of Mohawk; a niece, Sarah Elizabeth Kennedy and nephew, R. Kyle Kennedy, both of Mohawk; and several cousins. His mother, Dorothy Rivers, preceded Bill in death on March 27, 2000. Funeral service will be on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer. The Reverend William Otis, Pastor of the First United Church, Herkimer will officiate. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends two hours prior to the funeral service 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. Interment in Mountain View Memorial Gardens, Town of Little Falls, will be next spring. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.