Flora G. Sipes Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Flora Pearl Gauthier Sipes left this earth to rejoin her beloved Allen for eternity on Saturday, May 21st, 2022. She was 91 years old. Flora was born on September 4th, 1930 in Pawtucket Rhode Island to Rosario Gauthier and Hilda Boday Gauthier. She loved to share memories of growing up in Pawtucket in a three-story walk-up on Sabine Street. She attended Our Lady of Consolation where she enjoyed singing in the school choir and had a major role in a school play that was performed entirely in French. She also attended Tabbutt-Hubbard Business School. She met her future husband Allen while attending a dance with her best friend Rolland, in nearby Newport RI where he was stationed with the US Navy. They were married on August 16, 1952, and were married a total of 60 years before Allen’s passing in 2012. Flora and Allen moved their family in 1969 from New York to a rural area outside of Troutman, North Carolina to be closer to Allen’s family and live a simpler life. They had a beautiful life here while they raised their four children. Flora was able to enjoy all of the aspects of country living she wasn’t able to experience in her small childhood town of Pawtucket. While three of their children attended Western Carolina University Allen and Flora fell in love with the mountains so in 1996 they moved, for the last time, to Asheville North Carolina. Family and faith were the most important things in Flora’s life. She was devout in her Catholic faith teaching CCD every Sunday and working as the church secretary at St. Therese Catholic Church in Mooresville, NC while her children were growing up. After moving to Asheville Flora and Allen were active members of St. Eugene’s Catholic Church. Flora is survived by her son, Robert Sipes and his wife Alison Sipes, and daughters, Mary Smith and husband Eddie Smith, of Asheville and Patricia Dixson and her husband Michael Dixson of Mooresville; grandchildren, Sara Smith, Melissa Collins, Zachary Sipes, Jake Smith, Katie Smith, Nicholas Smith, Ashley Mendoza, Patrick Dixson, Aubrey Dixson, and Logan Dixson. She is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband Flora was predeceased by her daughter Dona Ann Bishop of Pfafftown, NC and brothers Clovis and Ronald Gauthier, and sisters Bella and Doris of Pawtucket, RI. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Land of Sky Post-Polo Resource Support Group, 97 Holly Hill Dr. Candler, NC 28715.

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Flora G. Sipes

September 4, 1930 - May 21, 2022