LAS CRUCES – Shirley Flores of Las Cruces passed away Nov. 20 due to complications with COVID-19, after almost without a doubt contracting the virus while in the hospital, her family said.
Flores, 58, was a 1980 Mayfield High School graduate and a U.S. Air Force veteran. After serving for six years, she returned to Las Cruces and started working for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier. She worked her way up and eventually became a postmaster in Las Cruces, Alamogordo and Holloman Air Force Base.
Flores retired as postmaster in 2019, but had plans to go back to school and earn a degree in social work. Her eldest son, Zachary Flores, said his mom was passionate about helping teenagers and had previously volunteered with them. She also was an avid baker, as is her son, Gabriel, and would help take care of her grandchildren.