Elias Hernandez, 86, passed away on January 7, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 2, 1934 to Natividad Hernandez and Sofia Rivera Hernandez in Port Arthur, Texas.
He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, followed by serving in the U.S. Army in Japan during the Korean Conflict. Elias returned home to marry Flora Marie Gaona in 1956, continuing to live in Port Arthur as they raised their family.
Elias was a businessman, first owning Hernandez Television Sales and Service. From 1982 to 2012, Elias was the owner of Hernandez & Solis, Inc., a Mexican food distributorship and manufacturing business, a business in which he took great pride.
Elias was active in the community both politically and in civic organizations. He served as a member and in leadership roles for numerous city, county and local boards, including the Port Arthur Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Port Arthur Parks and Recreation Board, various Port Arthur Independent School District citizen advisory boards and Lamar University System Affirmative Action Committees. Elias loved his native city of Port Arthur and worked to help improve the lives of others in this community. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Port Arthur where he served on several building committees to help build the parish facilities and beautiful shrine. He fought with determination for causes that would help improve the lives of others or would help right any wrong - always with honesty and true leadership.He was always available to help, opening his home and heart to anyone. No person remained a stranger if they met him. Elias was extremely proud of his immigrant parents and took great pride in sharing his heritage with his children, his family and others in the community. Throughout the Hispanic community, Elias was known as “Don Elias,” a title that he earned simply by the way he lead his life. His passion for over 50 years was also with fast pitch softball, as a player, coach, district commissioner and clinician. He was inducted into the Rusk Athletics Latin Hall of Fame. A longtime coach of the Port Arthur Apaches, Elias was known by his players as “Chief”.
Elias was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Herminia Daniels and Aurora Trevino, and, his brother, Roy Hernandez. The passing of his younger brother, Armando Hernandez, followed one day after Elias’ passing. He is survived by his daughter Sabrina Vrooman and husband, Jeff, of Port Arthur; son, Arthur Hernandez and wife, Debbie, of Groves; grandson, Mark Hernandez of Port Neches and granddaughter, Allison Scarborough and her husband, Stephen, of Orange; two great grandchildren, Elena and Madelyn Scarborough, and a host of nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held from 5pm to 8pm on Monday, January 11, 2021, with a rosary to be prayed at 6:30 pm at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at 10:30 am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 3648 S/Sgt. Lucian Adams Drive, Port Arthur, TX. Interment with military honors will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Due to the Covid-19 crisis we are currently in, all visitors are required to wear a face mask or facial coverings and practice social distancing as mandated by state and county officials.
The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the Hospice Plus caregivers, to Dr. Kahtan Kaissi, to Dr. Syed Akhtar and the staff of Texas Oncology for their care. Thanks to all of the family, friends and coworkers for their prayers and words of support during his illness.