The Honorable Judge G. R. "Lupe" Flores, 65, of Beaumont, died Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at Christus Hospital - St. Elizabeth, Beaumont. He was born on May 1, 1949, in New Gulf, Texas, to Eloisa Rodriguez Flores and Guadalupe Olivares Flores.
The family moved to Beaumont when Lupe was in the 7th grade and a student at MacArthur Jr. High. He went on to graduate from South Park High School as an Honor Student in 1967. He earned a Lions' Club scholarship to attend Lamar University. While at Lamar, Lupe was a proud member of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity, Blue Key, and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He worked his way through Lamar as a barber, and as a janitor at MacArthur Jr. High. Lupe graduated with Honors from Lamar University in 1971. He then attended law school at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., graduating in 1974. He became a member of the Washington D.C. Bar, U.S. District Court Bar, Supreme Court Bar, and was admitted to the Texas bar in 1977. Lupe worked for Congressman Jack Brooks as a Legislative aide on the House Government Operations Committee until returning to Texas to work as a prosecutor in the Jefferson County District Attorney's office in July of 1980. He went into private practice as a solo practitioner in 1985, becoming the first Hispanic municipal judge in Beaumont where he served for eleven years. Lupe ran for County Court at Law #2 in 2002, winning in the Democratic Primary after defeating two opponents. He never had an opponent after 2002.
Lupe married the love of his life, Nancy Lynn Neathery, on December 23, 1981, in Beaumont, at First United Methodist Church.
Lupe dedicated his life to helping others. He treated everyone with respect, courtesy, and kindness as he served the people of Jefferson County. He was active in professional organizations as well as civic and educational activities. Lupe served as a County Court at Law Master for mental competency Hearings, Vice President of Southeast Legal Services, Chairman of the State Bar Grievance Committee and was elected President of the Jefferson County Bar Association. He was also Chairman of the Jefferson County Bail Bond Committee. Some of his favorite work was cooking for the Kaleidoscope Arts Festival for twelve years which began his love of barbecuing for various groups and fundraisers. For years, Lupe drove his truck with his barbecue pit attached wherever he was needed. In 2002, Lupe started cooking for the West Brook High school Football Booster Club. This led to twelve wonderful years of West Brook Bruin football, wrestling, power lifting, Project Graduation, and PTA. Anything benefitting the students was worthwhile to him. He became a co-founder and previous president of the Beaumont Public School Foundation. Lupe continued to serve on the Foundation Board for over twenty years. Education was important in his life and took every opportunity to teach young people the difference a good education can make in their lives. Another favorite thing in his life was when he was able to serve as Santa Claus for the Jefferson County Courthouse Tree Lighting Ceremony, and for the West Brook Band, Soundpower, during The Caravan of Carols visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and retirement facilities throughout Beaumont.
Lupe’s grandchildren were the highlights of his last few years. Popi was his favorite name, especially when it came from one of the grandchildren. He spent hours rocking and reading books whenever one of the children cuddled in his lap. Jakey Bear was the apple of his Popi's eye from day one.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Neathery Flores; sons, G. James "Jamie" Flores and his wife, Erin Woddail Flores; Christopher "Chris" Hansel Flores and his wife, Kayce McCauley Flores; and Andrew “Andy” Michael Flores; daughter, Andrea Flores; grandchildren, Jacob Hansel Flores, Karlie Seymour, Natalie Seymour, and David Gardner; brothers, Samuel Flores and his wife, Dolores Flores and Patricio Flores and his wife, Glenda; brothers-in-law, James Byron Neathery, Jr., and Charles Miller Neathery and his wife, Marlene' Neathery; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Judge Flores was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother who was stillborn.
A Christian Vigil will be held at 4:00 p.m., with a gathering of Judge Flores’ family and friends to follow until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, April 26, 2015, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 27, 2015, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704; CASA of Southeast Texas, 2449 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77702; Garth House, Mickey Mehaffy Children’s Advocacy, 1895 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701; or to Tyrrell Historical Library, 695 Pearl Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701.
