Nancy Flagg Secor passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Sterling House in Bowling Green, Ohio on February 16, 2014. She was born in Bronxville, New York to Jewett and Charlotte (Brooks) Flagg on February 17, 1930 but moved to Florence, Alabama with her family in 1933. She considered Florence to be home and spent most of her developing years there before heading off to and graduating from the Saint Margaret’s School (Chase Collegiate School) in Waterbury, Connecticut, earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in education from the University of Toledo. She was a wife, mother, teacher, mentor, volunteer and philanthropist. After dedicating 15 years of her life to teaching at Ottawa Hills Elementary School, Nancy moved on to help establish the Wood County CASA program as well as the CASA program in her childhood home of Florence, Alabama. She was significantly involved in church, community, and charitable organizations. Nancy served on numerous local as well as national boards and was an active member of many organizations, however, Nancy will be most remembered for her advocacy and the positive impact she had on children. Nancy enjoyed playing tennis and fly fishing. She and her husband of 25 years, James J. Secor, spent most weekends during the summer at The Hut, their cottage on the North Branch of the Au Sable near Grayling, Michigan. They also enjoyed traveling together, spending many winters in Seaside, Florida and Florence, Alabama, or on fly fishing excursions to exotic locations. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and was an avid fan of their sporting events as well as Alabama Football.
Nancy is survived by her children, Peter Kern of Birmingham, Alabama, J. Brooks (Deb) Kern of Dove Canyon, California and Mariann (David) Austin of Sylvania, Ohio; her grandchildren Erin Rusling, Lauren DeVitis, Taylor Kern, Joseph Kern, Madeline Kern, J.B. Kern, Kyle Sullivan, Chandler Austin, Eleanor Austin, Isabelle Austin, Theodore Austin; and her sister Mary Louise Flanagan of Jackson, Tennessee.
Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, James J. Secor; as well as the father of her children, John P. Kern.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 24, at 1 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Florence, Alabama. Special thanks to the dedicated and caring staff at the Sterling House of Bowling Green and Bridge Hospice of Findlay. The family requests in lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made to the Toledo Community Foundation – Children’s Fund of Wood County, Sterling House – Clare Bridge Program for Dementia Care or the CASA program in Florence, Alabama.
