People Gather to Remember the Life of Ricardo 'Ricky' Flores

On a sweltering day in the city and the church Ricardo “Ricky” Flores always called home, co-workers, friends and family said their final good-byes, sending him home one last time.

Hundreds of mourners filled Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church Wednesday morning for a funeral Mass. Despite the 90-plus degree weather, they were hesitant to enter the church, as Flores’ death became more real.

Flores, who worked for the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District, was fatally injured June 28 when he was hit by a stake-bed truck while marking the location of a water line, investigators said. He was 24 years old.

“We need to be strong, for Ricky,” a dark haired woman said, holding her husband’s hand. The man did not comment on the tears falling down her face. He pulled her closer and whispered something in her ear, causing her to cry harder.

Just inside the church, people stopped to run their fingers over the face of the man they loved. Pictures of Flores swimming, hanging out with friends, and smiling brought both joy and sadness.

Following the funeral, everyone gathered at the Desert Lawn Memorial Park for the interment.

Ricky Flores was born June 23, 1987 and spent his whole life in Beaumont. He earned an Associate’s Degree at Mt. San Jacinto College.

He is survived by his parents Ramon and Gloria Flores, siblings Ramon Flores, Jr., Arturo Flores, Ruben Flores, and Lucia Flores. His nieces and nephews, Miguel, Isaac, Marisa, Elias, Isidro and Roselyn Flores are said to be mourning their uncle. 

Ricky Flores did not have children of his own but considered his beloved dog Milo to be like his baby, said a family friend.

The day of the funeral was hot; the wind dug its fingers into the clouds pulling them slowly across the sky. The parking lot was filled, cars spilling out onto the streets. People shuffled towards the church in groups of twos and threes.

People filled all 42 pews, still more came. A woman dressed in grey informed mourners, “There is room up in the loft.” People crowded in the back, fanning themselves. Only a few babies cried the rest of the church silent, eyes drawn to the closed casket at the front of the room.

A large picture of Flores, all smiles, sat beside the casket. A wreath of white roses, shaped like a heart sat beside the altar, a single candle lit in his honor.

Father Demetrio Aguilar, spoke with his arms thrown open while his calm voice never wavering. If ever there was comfort in the idea of eternal life, Father Aguilar tried his hardest to invoke it.

Father Aguilar shared his hope for Flores, a man described as good, kind, and a servant of God. He looked out at the mourners and said, his voice echoing through the large room, “Today we face the reality of death.”

He spoke of doubts, the doubts men have when faced with the death of someone so young and so loved, the doubt that God is present when a life is struck out so suddenly. “We ask ourselves, has God forsaken us? Are we being punished?” Aguilar said. “Death forces us to say yes or no to our faith.”

He reminded the mourners that Jesus Christ died for them, that his sacrifice would allow Ricky Flores to join him in eternal life. Despite the overwhelming grief felt, Ricky Flores would do in death what he did in life, bring people together, unifying them, showing them the truth of God’s love.

“We declare Ricky’s death is not senseless,” Aguilar said.

Father Aguilar gave a full Catholic sermon in both Spanish and English. He gave communion and asked mourners to turn to their neighbor and offer them peace.

When communion ended, the Flores family rose from the front row to speak.

“I’m overwhelmed, what can I say, kid brother?” Lucia Flores said, looking at her brother’s casket. “When you think of him you’re going to smile. I love you kid brother, I will see you later.”  

Lucia Flores gave her speech in both Spanish and English. Other men from the Flores family spoke, talking about “Ricky’s smiles,” his love of baseball, soccer and family.

 “He liked to play and he liked to work,” a male family member said. “He was well rounded, just a great person to be around.”

 One of Ricky Flores’ brothers proclaimed, “Ricky was the favorite uncle. All his sister-in-laws will miss him, we will miss him.”

“We have a full house of people who love him,” one man said, not giving his name. “I’ve heard stories about each of you, memories I will keep in my heart.”

The family gave their thanks to the people who helped them in their time of need.

During the service Lori Fox left in tears, rushing to the bathroom. She returned ten minutes later with red eyes, clutching a tissue. When asked why she left, she said, teary eyed, that “Ricky was one of my boys.”

“Ricky was a great kid,” said Fox, his next-door neighbor for 20 years. “When he was little, he was afraid of sock puppets. We taught him how to swim.”

A girl reached out to another woman, saying in a low voice, “I didn’t know Ricky knew so many people. It’s wonderful they all came.”

Fox summed up the mood of the day with four simple words, “He will be missed.”