Loretta Parker Richards

Loretta Parker Richards, 81, of Port Neches, Texas passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones.

At under 5′ tall, Loretta might have been short in stature, but she more than made up for her lack of height with her BIG personality. She would do anything it took to make people laugh. Some may remember her riding in her great-grandchildren’s Barbie jeep, zooming down the bounce house slide, participating in food fights in the Pompano staff kitchen, or showing off her “interesting” cactus clown. You may even have been lucky enough to have caught her dancing in the passenger seat on road trips or have received one of her singing voicemail messages. Sometimes all it took was hearing her boisterous laugh that would give anyone a fit of giggles.

Loretta prided herself on being a hard worker. She worked at The Pompano Club for forty-three years. Patrons knew her as the face of The Pompano, ready to greet you with her beautiful smile and her cloud of Obsession perfume. If she wasn’t working at The Pompano Club, you could probably catch her working in her jungle-like yard, possibly wearing her nightgown. Loretta had quite the green thumb and would frequently take clippings of plants wherever she went.

Loretta was always willing to lend a helping hand, whether you requested aid or not… Just ask her neighbors who returned from work to find their garage door painted, their grass cut, and a brand-new flower bed, courtesy of Loretta. As much as she loved people, she loved animals more. She rescued any and every animal she came across, including dogs, cats, parrots, cockatiels, raccoons, and even a squirrel (later named Jonathan). The neighborhood dogs loved the daily treats she’d stick through the fence and would come running every time she would walk outside.

Loretta excelled at many things. Oil painting, cake decorating, cooking, baking, and shopping were some of her many talents. Where she really was able to shine was as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Loretta won an award for her artwork, multiple cooking and baking competitions, and Mother of the Year in 2019. She left behind many happy memories, works of art, recipes, and dogs.

Live a life like Loretta – laugh loudly, pet all the animals, and always leave room for dessert.

Loretta is survived by her husband of fifty-nine years, Jerry Richards; children, Darrin and wife, Janis Richards, and Denise and husband, Mick Stephens; sister, Sue Starr; grandchildren, Amanda and husband, Paul Gomez, Brandon Block, Catherine Block, Lindsey and husband, Cody Eldridge, and Lauryn and husband, Tim Smith; great grandchildren, Andrew Lakey, Parker Gomez, Kaydence Block, Kobe Balsamo, Hayden Wallace, Jaxon Garsee, Avery Garsee, Levi Smith, and Emerson Eldridge; and great-great-grandchildren, Waylon and Weston Lakey.

Loretta is preceded in death by her parents, R.A. and Thelma Parker; siblings, Linda and Gary Parker; and son, David Block.

The family would like to thank Adela Prado, Tiffany Crosby, and Ivony Garcia for their excellent care of not only Loretta, but the entire family.  Thanks to the staff of Professional Home Health Care and Hospice for their care and attention.

In true Loretta fashion, a Celebration of Life will be scheduled for a later date.

Her cremation arrangements will be handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 North 12^th Street, Nederland.