Mr. Vital Norman Flores

February 6, 1927 – March 24, 2010

Vital Norman Flores was born February 6, 1927 in El Nido, California to Vital S. Flores and Mary T. Flores. He lived in El Nido on a dairy farm until he was 7 years old. His dad bought a ranch of 214 acres on Le Grand Road, where he grew crops and had a dairy. Vital worked with his family until he went into the United States Marine Corps, when he was 17 years old. He lived in Merced County all of his life except for the 20 years he served in the military. He retired after 20 years of service at the age of 37. He also retired from Civil Service at Castle Air Force Base. He worked at the commissary as a meat cutter for 20 years. He lost his fight with cancer at the age of 83 years on March 24, 2010 in Atwater, California.

Norman loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and flying small aircrafts. He liked going to the car races in Merced and watching football. Norman was very happy spending time with his family, whom he loved very much. He will be missed by all who loved him dearly. He will never be forgotten.

Norman is survived by his four sisters, Olivia Clinton, Velma Macedo, Alice Hamton and Evelyn Way; four children, Shirley L. Dooros of Merced, Carolyn A. Ensor of Spokane, Washington, Victor M. Flores of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Kathy Whitman of Volcano, California; 8 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home. Recitation of the Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will begin on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Merced. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Norman (Vital) Flores name to Hinds Hospice, P.O. Box 763, Merced, Ca 95341.

Our family would like to send a special thank you to the caregivers at Lamerson Home Care in Atwater.

Arrangements are under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home.