Mary Chester Flagg, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully in her home at Regency Park in Vero Beach on Nov. 25, 2014.
She is survived by her loving husband, John Flagg; her three daughters Ellen (John) Affel, Mary Jo (Reed) Boyd and Joan (Paul) Chace; her granddaughters Marjorie (Dan) Sanchez, Sarah (Michael) Hodess, Kelsey Boyd (Nick Mucci), and Lisa Boyd; and her grandson Ian Chace. She also reveled in the joy of holding her great-grandchild, Jack Sanchez. Other survivors include her extended family: her Southern kin, the Flagg/Bade Family, the Chace family and her Lake family.
Flagg was born in Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, N.Y. Her loving parents were Mary Gladys and Jonathan Moore, Jr. She went to schools in the Bronxville area before going to the Madeira School in McLean, Va. After graduating from Briarcliff Junior College, she worked for Time Life in New York City.
She soon met John Flagg and they were married Dec. 2, 1950, in Bronxville. They almost made it to their 64th anniversary. As a devoted mom of three daughters, Flagg spent much time in guiding and supporting them throughout their lives. She spent many hours behind the wheel.
Flagg was never interested in moving from Bronxville, so it is amazing that through a twist of fate (her husband’s many work transfers) that she lived in seven different locations across the country. Through golf, the Junior League, the church and many charitable activities, Flagg was quick to make many friends who remained dear to her throughout her life. She and John loved to travel and saw much of the world with a number of their close friends.
To her, a happy home life was not complete without a dog or two. She enjoyed a lifelong love of her dogs and the feeling was mutual! Flagg’s most formative years were the summers spent at the Moore/Smith properties on Heart Bay, Lake George, Ticonderoga, N.Y. She and her lifelong friends were busy from dawn to dusk swimming, sailing, playing tennis on their lakefront court, mountain climbing, learning how to drive at the age of twelve on their dirt road-and also getting into a little mischief.
Flagg’s love of the lake and her Heart Bay friendships grew exponentially with each new generation. She was considered one of the Grand Dames of the Bay, much beloved by all.
One summer at the age of 16, Flagg visited her grandparents, Mary and Chester Brown, in Asheville, N.C. It was there at the Biltmore Forest Country Club she took golf lessons from an old Scotsman and learned the game well. Later, in her moving around the country with her husband, John, she won many club championships, most recently at the Riomar Country Club.
But most of all, she loved the close and deep friendships she developed with the ladies she played with, including those from the US Senior Women’s Golf Association. One of her many favorite competitive partners was her dearly missed sister-in-law, Mary Flagg Bade.
A celebration of Mary Chester’s life will be held Dec. 4, at 11 a.m., at Christ Church, 925 14th Lane, Vero Beach 32960. Donations may be made to the Christ Church Building Fund. Share online condolences at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.