Obituary: Clarabelle "Dickie" Flack

1926-2011

Clarabelle "Dickie" Flack passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 4, 2011, at the Hospice Family Care in Prescott. Dickie was born on Aug. 15, 1926, to Bertha and Mordello Dowell on a farm in Parsons, Kan. She was their seventh and last child.

Dickie showed an early proclivity for mischief that earned her the nickname "Dickie" from being determined to be "a little dickens." She preferred her nickname to her given name and was called Dickie for the rest of her life.

Dickie's life was molded by the major events of the 20th century. After surviving the Depression, her family moved to California in 1938, where as family lore told it, an earlier contingent of family members had visited, and said the "streets were paved with gold," and "you could pick an orange off a tree in your front yard." Dickie's family moved to Southgate, Calif. She graduated from Southgate High in June 1945.

In 1943, on the beach in Long Beach, she met a young Marine from Detroit, Mich., who was stationed at Camp Pendleton. The Marine, Harley Robert (Bob) Flack asked her to play catch with him. They corresponded during Bob's tour in the Pacific. While Bob was at war, Dickie worked at the Firestone Company building gas tanks for B17 airplanes. Dickie was a WWII Rosie the Riveter. When Bob returned from the war, they married on Feb. 4, 1946. They moved to Detroit and had their first daughter, Cheryl Lee, on Dec. 16, 1947, who sadly passed away shortly after birth. When they returned to California they bought a house in Downey and had Lauri Ann in 1953 and David Robert in 1955.

Due to Bob's work over the years, they lived in Quartz Hill, Lancaster, Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria. Dickie worked in various offices over the years assisting with general office management and bookkeeping prior to retiring in 1980.

After retiring, they lived briefly in Detroit, Michigan and Flagstaff, Ariz., until moving in 1990 to Prescott where they have resided ever since. Bob and Dickie recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with champagne, balloons and family.

Dickie was a lifelong avid reader; creator of many beloved family holiday traditions; always enjoyed a good laugh; followed local, statewide and national politics closely; and was an active member of the Prescott Community Church. At the church, Dickie and Bob served in many capacities and provided community service through Prescott's local food bank, the Community Cupboard.

Dickie is survived by her husband Bob of Prescott; daughter Lauri of Ventura, Calif.; her son David and his wife, Kim, and grandchildren Zachary, Noah, Rachel and Simon of Phoenix; sister Pauline Mull of Prescott; many nephews and nieces throughout the states, and many friends and neighbors who will miss her ready smile, generosity and giving nature.

A memorial service will take place at the Prescott Community Church on Saturday, March 12, at 3 p.m. In lieu of lowers, family and friends may honor Dickie's memory by contributing to The Prescott Community Church Memorial Fund, 3151 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, AZ 86301.

Ruffner Wakelin Family Funeral Homes helped with the final arrangements and friends and family may visit their website at www.ruffnerwakeline.com to sign a guestbook.

Information provided by survivors.