Doria Torres Alvarado

Doria Torres Alvarado

February 24, 1935 to August 15, 2022

Doria Alvarado, 87, of Baytown, TX, passed away peacefully of natural causes at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital on Monday August 15, 2022. In her final days and moments, she was continually surrounded by loving family, a testament to the legacy she built and now leaves for her family to carry on.

Doria was born on February 24, 1935 in Fort Worth, TX, to parents Maximino and Luz P. Torres. Born during the Great Depression, she learned from an early age the value and necessity of hard work and perseverance through hardships and adversity. She carried these valuable life lessons with her to Baytown, TX, where she and her husband moved to in 1957. Doria was a mother to eight children at the time of Mike Flores’ untimely death. Her early life lessons instilled a solid work ethic and determination. These qualities provided the foundation necessary for Doria to become a successful single mother of eight children at the time, no easy feat.

Doria found love and a helping hand once again in Santos Alvarado, whom she was married to for 40 years before his passing. Together they had one daughter to complete Doria’s family of nine children. The hard work ethic of Doria and Santos proved fruitful as owners and operators of The Longhorn Shop at a variety of flea markets for over 35 years. Even after the passing of her late second husband, Doria continued to work at her shop at The Pasadena Indoor Flea Market, often with the help of her children and grandchildren. As age related health issues began to show in Doria, her children wanted her to close her shop and focus on her health. As expected of the most hard-working woman her children have ever known, she refused, acknowledging her second home at The Longhorn Shop and her second family in her fellow shop owners. Even when faced with declining health, Doria remained steadfast in her work ethic and felt a personal obligation to her work at the flea market, continuing to work until three weeks prior to her passing. Her children will remain eternally grateful to her second family of fellow shop owners at the flea market for all the love and help they afforded her over the years.

Like a true resident of the Houston area, Doria loved watching the Astros play. Secondary commentary was part of the deal when watching the Astros play on TV with Doria. Even in her final days, she continued this tradition, always asking family to turn on the Astros game so she could watch and provide her personal commentary. Outside of the Astros, Doria had another love, watching and listening to preacher Jimmy Swaggert. She would often both go to sleep and wake up listening to him and credited him with deepening her education and faith in her Lord and Savior. This undoubtedly played a role in Doria being at peace spiritually in her final days and fully prepared to meet her Savior. Although her earthly presence will be truly missed, her family and friends find solace knowing she has a new heavenly home.

Doria was preceded in death by her parents; 3 brothers and 3 sisters; first husband Mike H. Flores and second husband Santos Alvarado; son-in-law, John Richard Estrada; grandson,

Gabriel Chapa. She is survived by brothers, Alfonso Torres and Maximino Torres (Irene); sister, Yolanda Alberici (John); sons; Mike Flores, Jr. (Cindy), Robert Flores (Evelyn), daughters; Mary Doria Lopez (Rey), Esther Estrada, Cindy Fehring (Ronnie), Lucy Rodriguez (Joseph), Elizabeth Ramirez (Paul), Gloria Chapa and Crystal De Los Reyes (Valentin). She is further survived by her grandchildren, Helen Villacres (Jerry), Rey Lopez, Jr (Jennifer), Jason Estrada (Tracie), Nick Estrada (Laura), Olivia Garza (Shaun), Mike Lee Flores (Christina), Max Flores, Vincent Flores, Shireen Stram (Bret), Michael Flores (Melody), Ashley Flores, Jeremy Gonzales (Angel), Jeff Gonzales (Yuridia), Jared Rodriguez (Beatrice), Eric Rodriguez, Jillian Johnson (Ricky), Allison Fugere (Ryan), Nina Valdez, Felicia Chapa (Max), Matthew Chapa, Valentin De Los Reyes III and Matteo De Los Reyes. Doria was blessed with thirty-three great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter, numerous other relatives, and many friends.

Pallbearers are Woody Lopez, Nick Estrada, Max Flores,

Jeremy Gonzales, Eric Rodriguez, Matthew Chapa, Valentin De Los Reyes III and Kaden Garza. Honorary pallbearers are Jason Estrada, Mike Lee Flores, Vince Flores, Jeff Gonzales, Jared Rodriguez, Matteo De Los Reyes and A.D. Williams. “Pawbearer” Bubbie (Boobies) De Los Reyes.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 18, 2022 at Crespo & Jirrels Funeral Home Chapel from 5 to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be on Friday, August 19, 2022 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Crespo & Jirrels with interment following at Cedar Bayou Masonic Cemetery, in Baytown, TX.

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