Flora Ruego Sanchez Selby, 72, of Deltona, Florida, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2026. She was born on May 7, 1953, in Cebu, Philippines, the second youngest of six siblings, with five older brothers and one younger sister.

Flora was a woman of determination, humor, and deep devotion to her family. She earned a Master’s degree in Accounting from Cebu University, a testament to her lifelong belief in education and self-improvement. In 1982, she bravely immigrated to the United States with her then-husband, former Air Force member Paul Gene Bearden, and their two-year-old daughter, Flora Jane. Embracing her new country wholeheartedly, Flora learned English, became a proud United States citizen in 1988, and built a life rooted in hard work and perseverance.

She was a longtime employee of Sherwood Medical, where she worked diligently until becoming disabled in 2006. Even while balancing full-time work, Flora never wavered in her commitment to her family. She was the kind of mother and grandmother who showed up—every time. She attended every award ceremony, celebrated every milestone, and beamed with pride at accomplishments big and small, from learning to roller skate and swim to graduating high school and college.

Flora’s love for learning extended beyond herself. She firmly believed education was how generations moved forward and often said that once knowledge was gained, no one could ever take it away. That belief guided her sacrifices, including caring for her granddaughter, Callista Phoenix Davis, for three and a half years so her daughter could complete college classes—all while working full time.

She instilled a strong work ethic in her family in both practical and loving ways. Weekend lumpia-making sessions became lessons in teamwork and responsibility: one prepping, one frying, and the finished product sold at work for a dollar apiece to fund cherished Blockbuster movie nights. These moments were simple, joyful, and unforgettable—much like Flora herself.

Flora loved fiercely and fearlessly. She found joy in laughter and was never shy about laughing loud or being the first to laugh. She enjoyed movies that made her laugh, crocheting, word search puzzles, and reading—especially the Bible. She owned many copies and was rarely without one; even at the end of her life, a large-print Bible rested in her walker. Books filled her home and her heart.

She also had a fond love for Florida State University—despite never visiting the campus—and good-naturedly accepted that her daughter would instead graduate from Stetson University. Flora believed that everything happened for a reason, but that growth came from learning, reflecting, and finding peace within those experiences.

Flora was preceded in death by her first husband, Paul Gene Bearden, who passed in February 2024, and her second husband, Scott A. Selby, whom she married in 2003 and who passed away in 2016.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, Flora Jane Davis, her son-in-law, Kenneth A. Davis, and her treasured granddaughter, Callista Phoenix Davis, along with extended family and loved ones who will forever carry her lessons, laughter, and love.

Flora Selby lived a life defined by faith, education, sacrifice, and joy. She loved deeply, worked tirelessly, laughed freely, and left behind a legacy that will continue through the generations she so fiercely believed in.