ESSENTIALS

Obituaries

Obituaries on this page are written and paid for by the families or funeral homes. They are edited minimally by the Mountain Democrat. To submit an obituary, call (530) 622-1255, e-mail obits@mtdemocrat.net, fax (530) 344-5092, or visit mtdemocrat.com under “Submission Forms” at the bottom of the website. Include contact information with all submissions.

Philip (Pastor Phil)

Nathanael Flaming

March 5, 1958 – Dec. 12, 2022

Philip Flaming, 64, of Placerville, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on December 12 after a long battle with cancer. His cousin and Chaplain at Marshall Hospital were by his side, in the midst of prayer, when he passed. Philip served the Lord his whole life. He was born in Brazil to missionary parents. As an adult , he continued to serve on many mission trips, including Mexico and Papua New Guinea. In 1978, he began his service as an associate pastor and teacher at Highway Bible Church in Placerville, where he continued to serve until shortly before his passing. He is survived by family and friends all over the world.

There will be a remembrance of his life at 11:00 a.m. April 29 at Highway Bible Church, 6420 Mother Lode Dr, Placerville, Calif.

Katherine A. Smith

Jan. 3, 1922 – March 20, 2023

Katherine ‘Kay’ Smith passed away at her Garden Valley home at the age of 101. She was the daughter of Harry Connor and Katherine Hanny born in Loomis, California on a strawberry farm and raised on a small ranch at Meadowbrook during the 1920’s to 1935 when her family moved to Missouri. After high school she moved back to California and worked as a waitress along with her sister Helen in Los Angeles as well as working as a riveter at an aircraft factory. She met James Smith, a Marine headed for the Pacific during WWII. They married and had three children. She and her husband, after living in the Bay Area, moved to Garden Valley and operated Jim’s Garden Valley Grocery Store from 1959 until 1979. Kay was active in the community and was a lifelong Grange member and volunteered at FOCUS for many years. Twice she served as Grand Marshall of the Garden Valley Fourth of July Parade. She enjoyed refinishing furniture and working in her garden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Katherine Connor, her brothers, Harry Connor and Jack Connor, and her son James W. Smith. She is survived by her sister Helen Mathias of Roseville, daughter Sandra Mancuso (Lawrence) of Garden Valley, son Thomas Smith (Kathleen) of El Dorado Hills, grandson, Nino Mancuso (Claire), granddaughters Lauren Mancuso, Shelly Klose (Christian) and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at a future date to be announced.

Donations can be sent in her name to Snowline Hospice of El Dorado County.