Pearl W. Flores

Pearl W. Flores passed away and went to be with The Lord and her husband Joe on Friday, June 5, 2026. She was 91 years old, a longtime resident of Salinas, CA., and known to many as MeeMee.

Pearl was born August 26, 1934 in Henryetta, Oklahoma. She was born to a very loving family who traveled to California during the dust bowl when she was 5 years old looking for a better life. Although the journey wasn’t easy, they made it to Olivehurst. CA. Pearl fell in love with Joe and the two married in Marysville, CA. on January 28, 1954. They were married 57 years and enjoyed making a life together. Her family is at peace knowing she’s finally united with her husband.

She was a loving wife and a good mom, always taking care of her kids and grandkids. She worked hard to ensure they had what they needed and would be a close-knit family. It was important to her that her family took care of one another, they went to church, and that they stayed safe. Her grandkids were her pride and joy. She would go to all their school and sporting events. She was a parishioner at Oak Park Community Church and prayed often for her loved ones. Her family remembers sharing fun trips with her at the casino and playing bingo, celebrating holidays at MeeMee and Papa’s house, making tamales, playing checkers and dominoes, doing puzzles and being able to call her for guidance.

Pearl always worked hard, something instilled in her from childhood. She worked at the Emporium, JCPenney’s and retired from the Salinas Recreation Department in 2020 after 32 years. It took a pandemic for her to give up her shift at the Rec Center – she was well known in the community and MeeMee to so many who grew up there.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her parents, Larry and Pearl Espinoza; her brother, Charles Espinoza, and sisters Bertha McCormick, Elveda Bogle, and Shirley Woods.

She is survived by her daughter, Gloria (Ruben) Romero; her son, David (Denise, 2024) Flores; her daughter, Debbie (Jaime Cortez, 2026) Flores; her grandchildren, Ruben (Cindy) Romero, Jennifer Flores, Jonathan Romero, Anthony (Elisabeth) Flores Garcia, Jessica (Victor) Flores Lopez, and Trisha Garcia; her great-grandchildren, Zachary Flores, Anthony and Marissa Garcia, Violet, Mason, Jade, and Jeremy Romero, Ryder and Addison Romero, and Trevi, Lucia, and Saul Lopez. Her surviving sisters are Pat Banta and Lola Brown.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 11 a.m. at Healey Mortuary, followed by a burial service at Garden of Memories Cemetery.