Phyllis K Flagel

The Cashmere Valley lost their #1 Sports Fan, Phyllis K. Flagel, on Thursday, December 12, 2013, she was 76. Phyllis was born on September 23, 1937 to the late Rex and Lois (Searles) Kish in Cashmere. She was raised with her brother Roy and two sisters, Ellen and Beverly. She attended school and graduated with the Class of 1955. Phyllis was a hard worker and started work as a cashier at Safeway and later at JC Penney's, in Cashmere, then as a fruit packer at Vale and Pioneer Growers. In 1963 she met and married Stanley Flagel in Cashmere and together they raised three children, Susan, Rusty and Terri. While raising her family and ever the sports enthusiast she not only taught her children to play and love sports as much as she did, she continued her athletic participation in local sport leagues, tennis every Monday morning; bowling and softball for the Cashmere Yellow Jackets. First base was "her" position of choice but often she was called in as pitcher. Rusty recalls being "bat boy", learning to score keep (regardless of the sport) and around cheerleader for his mom and the teams she played with. In later years her participation turned to being recognized as Cashmere's #1 Fan, which she was officially awarded, along with Grandma Doane, by the Cashmere Booster Club; an honor that she was most proud. She was known as being first in line (and early, by quite a bit) at the door or gate for every football or basketball event (home and away) and when she could she would be helping handing out programs, taking money or selling tickets for a fundraiser raffle. Known to have the scores of not only local but college and national teams which she loved to share them with the coffee crew that would gather regularly at Barneys' in the mornings. Her greatest pleasure was caring for her granddaughters, Tasha and Mikela. She would take them to Sunday school or Bible school and be their teacher (she loved to provide arts and crafts projects for all the preschoolers), watch them during swim lessons and compete on the swim team, drive them to and from school and other events. Terri remembers the first time the girls walked home from school, "mom drove really slow( behind the girls) and watched them walk all the way to the house" "finally the girls realized it was just easier to have Grandma drive them". When the girls started playing tennis grandma was right there, cheering them on, driving them to and from practice, attending matches as often as possible, wearing sports buttons with the girl's faces on them pinned to her vest. Her smile was even bigger as she proclaimed that the girls had won State Titles in tennis. She was not only their cheerleader but every other athlete's as well. She was a proud fan. Children growing up in Cashmere at one time or another were the recipient of her kind and generous heart. She loved the community and all that it stood for. She was a member of Cashmere Grace Lutheran Church and active with Children's Ministry and Education programs, Cashmere Bulldog Booster Club and the American Legion Auxiliary #64 of Cashmere. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley and sister Ellen Kinamon. She leaves behind her children, Susan Snelson, Tacoma, Rusty Flagel and Terri (Rich) Kowatsch both of Cashmere; sister, Bev Lobe, Cashmere; brother, Roy Kish, Marysville; brother in-laws, Jim (Janet) Flagel, Cashmere, Jerry (Joanne) Flagel, Renton, Ed (Marlene) Flagel, Auburn; sister in-law Shirley (Mike) Kikuchi, Wenatchee; granddaughters, Mikela Kowatsch, Bemidji, MN and Tasha Kowatsch, Cashmere. You are invited to visit her online tribute to leave message and memories for her family at: www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, December 20, 2013, 11:00am at Cashmere Grace Lutheran Church, interment will follow at the Cashmere Cemetery with Pastor Rob Gohl, officiating. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, Cashmere.

Phyllis K Flagel

September 23, 1937 - December 12, 2013