Rosamond Mae Rugg Lexer Flagg: 12/11/20 – 06/17/25

Rosamond Mae (Rugg) Lexer Flagg, nearly 105 years old, passed away peacefully at home in Jamestown, while under the care of hospice and her family at her side

Rosamond was born December 11th, 1920, at the Dew Drop in Cattaraugus, NY. Her parents were Jessie Horth and Fred Rugg. At about 10 years old her parents divorced. She and her 6 siblings went to live with their Grandparents, Rena and Louie Horth. Being the oldest she had to help her grandmother. She learned to can, cook, sew, cross stitch, needle point and crochet. She re-caned chairs and did upholstering. She made cakes for weddings and other occasions. She even made her daughter Linda’s wedding dress and wedding cake.

Rosamond graduated from Cattaraugus High School in 1939. She had always wanted to become an art teacher but was unable to do so. However, she did some of the drawings for the high school yearbook.

In 1941 she married her high school sweetheart, Lewis Lexer. They started married life in Buffalo where their son Bernie was born. While in Buffalo, Rosamond worked for JN Adams. In 1954, Lewis got a job for 7-up and needed a barn to put the 7-up truck in, so they moved to East Otto. While in East Otto she worked at the Super Duper in Springville and acted as Postmaster in East Otto for a few years as well. They then moved back to Cattaraugus where their daughter Linda was born. In Cattaraugus she worked for Chester Jensen for 20 years until her retirement.

She played the organ at the East Otto Church, St. John’s Church and the Napoli Methodist Church.

Rosamond helped to start the Cattaraugus Ambulance Association and held a position as a member of the board from 1974-1989. She was also on the Cattaraugus Central School Board in the 1980’s.

She and Lewis loved dancing and belonged to the western style dance group. They also loved camping. She joined the Order of the Eastern Star in 1950 and just received her 75-year anniversary certificate from them this past May. She was district deputy for them in 1964 and 1993. She was also on their necrology committee in 2006 and 2016. Rosamond enjoyed working in the concession booth of the Cattaraugus County Fair for 25 years.

Her first husband Lewis passed away in 1994 and so in 1997, she married her longtime friend, Merle Flagg. The two moved to Napoli, where they built a new house together and remined married for 28 years until Merle’s passing in 2022.

Rosamond is survived by her daughter, Linda Conti, and five grandchildren, JB (Christine) Conti, Jayme (Kate) Conti, Jeff Lexer, Chris (Marcia) Lexer, and Carol Ann (Patrick) Grabowski. She also had 10 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her 2 husbands, Lewis and Merle, her son Bernard Lexer (1969), her father Fred Rugg, mother Jessie, and stepfather Fred Cook. Her granddaughter Jody Lexer (1988), daughter in law Bonnie Beach Lexer (1998), as well as son in law Joe Conti (2023), 2 sisters, Jean Kuhs, Arlette Weber, and 4 brothers, Donlad, Vernon, Robert and Norman have also passed.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, June 20, 2025 from 12- 2:00 PM from the VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home, 14 Church Street, Randolph, NY 1472. Funeral services will follow the visitation, with Rev. W. Mike Trenchard, pastor of the St. John’s Church in Cattaraugus officiating. Burial will follow in the Liberty Park Cemetery, Cattaraugus. A light dinner will be held in the Napoli Methodist Church after the Cemetery Committal.

To leave a condolence for the family, please log onto www.vanrensselaerandsonfuneralhome.com Memorials if desired may be sent to the Napoli Methodist Church, East Otto Fire Department or the EOFD Ladies Auxiliary.