Catherine Louise Rice Flagg passed away peacefully at her home in High Point surrounded by family at 1:45 A.M. on Sunday, February 26, 2023. She was 97. Catherine was born in High Point on June 5, 1925 to John Wesley Rice and Rosa Ann Moran Rice.
She had one sister, Gloria Ann Rice Cheves who was married to Maurice (Tiny) Cheves, both of whom are deceased, one stateside niece, Gayle Cheves Davis and her husband Tim Davis of Kernersville, NC, and one nephew, Doug Cheves (deceased). Catherine married Russell G. Flagg, son of George and Bessie McGregor Flagg, in High Point on July 2, 1945. They have two sons, Larry Wayne Flagg of High Point and Dale Alan Flagg and his wife Terri of Sanford, NC. In Canada Catherine had three sisters-in-law, Mabel Flagg George and husband Ed (deceased), Hazel Flagg Sidor (Graves), wife late husbands Warren (1981) and Bill (2002), Velma Flagg Kennedy, and husband Tony (deceased) one Brother-in-law, Stanley Flagg, and 6 nieces, Wilma Tichenoff and husband Bill (deceased), Karen Turner and husband Richard (deceased), Donna Gallo and husband John, Mary Lynn McBay and husband Murray, Eleanor Patterson, and husband Harry and Louella Jeanne George, (deceased), nephews, Ken Graves and wife Brenda and Derek Sidor.
Catherine and Russell began life together as factory workers at Tomlinson's factory in High Point. In September 1949 Russell was offered a position as an upholsterer in Washington, D.C. After several years of working for just three upholsterer shops they opened Flagg Upholstery in Tacoma Park, MD. Russell built the furniture and Catherine did the sewing and kept the books. And after 25 years retired to Port St. Lucie, FL. Catherine's loving husband of 52 years passed away in September of 1997 and she returned home to High Point in April of 2004. Catherine loved her neighborhood friends in her very close knit community in north High Point. She loved daily visits and neighborhood walks with her good friend and neighbor Mary. She was also a very talented quilt maker, seamstress, crochet artist and avid gardener. Catherine loved all animals, dogs, cats, even parakeets and loved watching her humming birds in her backyard. Catherine never had a harsh word towards anyone, except maybe those "smart aleck" outlaws on Gunsmoke who threatened Marshall Matt Dillon. She would say, "I would like to sock him one."
We love you, and miss you already. Rest in peace Mom knowing you were a superb Mother and an inspiration to everyone who knew you.
Visitation will be at Sechrest-Davis Funeral Home 976 Phillips Avenue, High Point, NC 27262 at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, March 6, followed by a graveside service at Floral Garden Park Cemetery at 2p.
Online condolences may be shared at www.sechrestdavisphillipsavenue.com for the Flagg family.
