May 29, 1921 – March 19, 2018

Etta Lee Flaherty, wife of John Flaherty and daughter of Earnest F. and Sadie Leach, passed away last month in Orange, California. She was 96.

Etta was born in Oil City, Oklahoma and moved to Montrose in the early 1920s with her parents. Her father and uncle (Grey) were co-owners of Leach’s Market – one of the first grocery stores in Montrose. Etta attended Glendale High School and married John Flaherty in 1941. John was a local general contractor for many years in the Crescenta Valley.

Etta was an employee of the LA County/USC Medical Center in the 1960s and 1970s. Later in life, Etta completed her bachelor’s degree through Glendale College and Pepperdine University.

She was an avid ice skater, tennis player and bridge player at various periods of her life. She and John were also members of the Oakmont Country Club for many years.

Her sister Cathryne (Leach) Jost, daughter Kathy Christian, sons John Lee and Tim, three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren survive Etta.

Services were private.