Obituary for Jose Antonio “Joe” Flores

The Rosary for Jose Flores, 82, of Portales, will be recited at 6:00 PM, Fri., Feb. 1, 2019 at St. Helen Catholic Church. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Sat., Feb. 2, 2019 at St. Helen Catholic Church with Fr. John Brasher as Celebrant. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Jimmy Aranda, Randy Ornelas, Tony Flores, Jr., Michael Lucero, Jr., Elijah Phillips, Steve Salas, Robert Pena and Ramona Montoya serving as pallbearers. Miguel Flores, Jr., Jose Gonzales, Johnny Corrales, Joe Madrid and Mteo Flores along with all of his Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren and his nieces and nephews will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Jose Antonio Flores, known to many as “Joe,” was born Sept. 20, 1936 in Corona, NM to the home of Cecilia (Baros) and Miguel Antonio Flores, and died at his home in Portales on Jan. 29, 2019. Joe grew up in Corona until 1948, when they came to Portales. He and his family worked at whatever type jobs they could find. They worked in construction on the Airbase Highway, and helped lay the bricks in Main Street in Clovis. Joe worked on local farms in the fields and picking cotton. On July 18, 1959, in Encino, he was married to Aurora Garcia.
Joe worked in maintenance at Portales High School, and then for all of the schools in the system. At night, he cleaned at Les’s Sweet Shop and on weekends, he and his family cleaned St. Helen’s Catholic Church. He had a great work ethic, and instilled that into all of his children. In 1975, he and his wife established La Hacienda Restaurant which he ran until his retirement. Joe was very generous, and was always making donations of food to ENMU students or for various fund raising efforts. Whenever there were dinners at the church, he could be counted on to donate food, and help with the cooking.
He is survived by Auroroa, his wife of more than 59 years; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Sandra Aranda, Esther and Crespin Ornelas, Jr., Cynthia and Carl Gonzales and Jennifer Flores all of Portales; two sons and a daughter-in-law, tony and Carmen Flores and Miguel Flores of Portales; 12 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Betty (Mrs. Ramon) Flores of Portales and Flo (Mrs. Crecencio) Flores of Roswell; as well as by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Ramon, Crecencio, Faustino and Ricardo Flores, and three sisters and a brother-in-law, Corina and Pete Corralez, Janie Flores and Lucinda Flores. To send flowers to the family of Jose Antonio “Joe” Flores, please visit Wheeler Mortuary’s Heartfelt Sympathies Store.