Adan Flores Jr

Adan Flores Jr passed away on December 12, 2018 in Bedford, Texas about 415 miles from where he was born in Alice, Texas. If he had his wishes, he would have lived his entire life in Alice, Texas. He loved Alice.
Adan, who went by “Danny” loved music almost more than life itself. He breathed music. He was a star musician in high school who competed at the state level and even performed regionally in a band that played jazz standards for area dances. He also had live gigs and recorded with the Isladro Lopez and Chris Sandoval Orchestras. He kept playing the clarinet and saxophone decades later with a turntable nearby keeping up with the big boys. While in the hospital, he was being serenaded by his favorite musicians and singers, including Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, Dave Brubeck, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and many others.
Adan, (American translation Adam) met Eva (American translation Eve) Soliz while she was still in high school and though for her it wasn’t exactly love at first sight, she eventually was swayed by his charms. They kept in touch while he was serving in the US Army in the 50’s, stationed in Germany. In 1958, they married in Alice, Texas. Of course. This year they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
In the early 60’s, Danny took his family to California and worked for Rocketdyne, an American rocket engine design and production company headquartered in the western San Fernando Valley of suburban Los Angeles, in southern California. He also worked for Lockheed while in California. He had severe allergies in California and relocated by home to Texas. By the mid 60’s, he eventually went to for NASA and making a home in Friendswood, Texas. He had an extraordinary career working with the Space program and shuttle missions. The company he created in the 70’s called ChiMex was a racially mixed firm that was awarded contracts for performance of institutional computer systems engineering, development and production operations work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Dan and Eva lived in Friendswood, Houston, San Antonio and finally landed in Euless, to be closer to the grandkids. He and Eva just moved into a senior independent living cabana in Euless and were enjoying their new place and looking forward to take classes on campus.
A voracious reader, he has read books on everything from American history to the tribes of Mexico to the study of environmental engineering and how to make things more energy efficient using innovative technology. All along, listening to music and telling us about the artists he had just discovered like Michael Buble or savoring old favorites like Willie Nelson. He loved live concerts more than anything and was able to see so many of his favorites over the years. Sharing his love for music was likely his greatest passion. Nothing made him smile more than when his offspring appreciated his music. His grandchildren smile when they talk about how Grandpa used to give them all instruments and he would direct them as if they were junior members of Asleep at the Wheel. All of his grandchildren love music today because of the seed he planted in them.
If you traveled down Texas Highways with him, you knew if there was a Historic Marker ahead, he was going to have to pull over, stop the car and make you get out and read it. He has likely stopped at a hundred or more of them. Watching movies like Lonesome Dove with him was always an experience because he could tell you the backstory to every scene because he had read about it or visited.
He loved Good & Plenty or almost any black licorice, didn’t drink much but did enjoy a cold beer back in the day, and had a serious passion for an old school Tex-Mex cheese enchilada. Especially Enchilada Ole’ in Fort Worth. Of course, though they were good, they were not as good as Dina’s in Alice.
Dan was always a joker. A prankster. A kidder. It’s possible that his Alzheimer’s was missed for so many years because you never knew if he was messing with you, playing dumb or pulling your leg.
He attended St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Mom and told us once that the reason the Catholics had to use Mary so much was because of the prayer request overflow. He said Jesus asked her to help him out. His theology was sometimes muddy but he got it.
Adan was a very interesting man. Larger than life personality who’s big heart and smile will be missed.
Funeral Service: 3pm, Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at Lucas Funeral Home, Hurst. Visitation will begin at 2pm.
Adan is survived by his loving wife Eva Flores; son, David Flores; daughters, Linda Gorski and husband, Ron, and Sandra Lee Cole and husband, Darrell; grandchildren, April Lee and husband, Stephen, Thomas O'Brian, Danny Flores, Ritchy Flores, Tony Flores and wife, Megan, Samuel Flores and wife, Bethany; Bob O’Brian, Elvia & Brian Decker and his great grandchildren, Aubri, Brooke, Gabby, and Eli; and many other family members and friends.


In lieu of flowers donations may be made to https://www4.texashealth.org/donate/donatethf.aspx
American Legion Post 0379