Florence Rexie Catlett

Born – October 10, 1914 Died—August 8, 2014

Florence passed away Friday August 8, 2014 in Huntington Beach, California. She was born October 10, 1914 in Keevil Township in Monroe County, Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her Husband – Noonern Columbus Catlett and her oldest Daughter -- Ruby Joyce (Catlett) McKinney and by her Parents – Joseph Galaspie Carter and Ora Belle (McKinney) Carter, by her Brothers – Joseph, Granville, Cairl and Aubry and by Sisters -- Helen, Edith, Ruth and Lewella,

She is survived by her youngest Sister – Lola Belle (Carter) Russell of Tennessee. Daughter – Ramona (Catlett) Billing of California. Son – Lloyd Catlett and Lori Ishizawa of California. Daughter – Rita Catlett of California. Grand Children – Anita Hamic of California, Jim McKinney and wife Joann of California, Judy Austin and husband Mark of California, Linda McKinney of California, Michael McKinney of Arizona, Kevin Billing and wife Angela of California, Michelle Catlett and husband Thomas of California, Ivan Catlett of California. Great Grand Children –Kimberly, Melissa, Robert, Kristina, Kyle, Elizabeth, Jill, Joey, Aimee, Summer, Nicholas, Kaydee, Ryan, Maria Florence, Lilith and Dylan. GreatGreat Grand Children – Karissa, Taylor, Piper Jo, Rexton, Charlie K., and Samuel.

Florence was born in the heart of the Mississippi River Delta in Eastern Arkansas near the confluence of the White River, Cache River, St. Francis River, Arkansas River and several other smaller rivers with the Mississippi River. Her family and her husband’s family were cotton farmers, farming land throughout the Delta until she and her husband moved their family to the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains in Central Arkansas, trading the river bottoms for the woods and hills.

In the mid-1950s, she began working in hospitals as a nurses aide, and then worked up to performing formal nursing duties as was common in those days when licensed nurses were unavailable. She was the nurse of choice for many of the doctors at the Baptist Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas who came to know her and her knowledge and ability in caring for those who were sick. She continued that level of work after moving to California in 1958 until retirement from the Long Beach Community Hospital.

Florence lived a life of hard work, starting as a child in a farming family and she applied a strong work ethic to every thing she did. There was never a task she wouldn’t willingly take on.

Beginning in 1952 until her death, she was a member of the Order of The Eastern Star at the Congo, Arkansas Masonic Lodge where her husband was a member. Over the years, the Order carried out numerous charitable acts and events. Florence served for a time as Worthy Matron.

Throughout her life she was friendly and generous and helpful to everyone she met.

She would invite family members, who were down on their luck to stay with her family or eat with them until they could make it on their own. And she had a remarkable knack for curing what ailed them.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 14 in the Chapel at Westminster Memorial Park 14801 Beach Blvd. Westminster, CA 92683.-- Interment will follow at Westminster Memorial Park - Viewing will be from 1:30 to 2:30 before the funeral service at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, August 14, 2014.

Arrangements under the direction of Westminster Memorial Park

14801 Beach Blvd. Westminster, CA 92683. (714) 893-2421,

(800) 877-1175