Margaret Jane Flournoy

It is with great sorrow, yet deep gratitude for the remarkable life she lived, that the Flournoy family announces the passing of its matriarch, Margaret Walters Flournoy. She was 89 years old. Born at home in Oakland, Texas, Margaret was the middle child of Otto and Agnes Walters. Growing up country, she shimmied to the top of the towering oak tree in the town square, clawing to the top. Margaret’s spunk foreshadowed her destiny to tackle challenges and chase excellence in all pursuits.

Searching for better schools, the family moved to Wharton. An earnest student, Margaret‘s favorite subjects were math and reading. She graduated early, standing out in music and sports: solo clarinetist, twirler, drum major, volleyball, and tennis ace. She attended college with a business focus. Her skills won her first job as secretary to the president of Wharton Junior College. While there, an alluring man from El Campo, Clark Flournoy, spiked her interest. Light on his feet, he danced his way into her heart. Their lively jitterbug showcased Margaret’s nickname, “Boogie Jane”. The couple with happy feet married and kept things bouncing for 58 years in Lake Jackson, where they set up housekeeping, sweetening the deal with four bubbly kids.

Clark jumped early to try a sales career with Allstate Insurance, propelled by his wife’s gritty determination to help him succeed. After mothering all day, Margaret refueled at night to call and set up appointments. Her persistence helped launch her husband’s flourishing 41 years with Allstate. Handy with tools, this homemaker installed flooring and repaired sheetrock as exacting as she baked pies and sewed clothes. Her most daunting achievement was a late life detour, supported by her husband. She boomeranged back to college to fulfill her dream to teach math. The locals remember Mrs. Flournoy, a legendary math instructor at Lake Jackson Intermediate School. Her commanding leadership triggered students to hunker down and amp up. This rigorous task master and steely disciplinarian lifted kids of all abilities, pushing and pulling them over the finish line.

Family was her little bit of heaven. Margaret shepherded her extended flock with a fullness of grace and sacrifice, doing small things with great love. Her home was a magnet for family gatherings where she lingered in conversations, taking inventory of our lives. She blessed the family with many gifts, but none more special than her handwritten letters of praise or counsel. These keepsakes are treasured windows to her soul. A fierce advocate for her special needs daughter, Margaret loved all her children unconditionally but, protected this child until the end, understanding that she was called to a higher purpose than self. She soldiered on, ministering to needs, until her spent body refused to reboot.

Her strong Catholic faith was a driving force. She fed her need to understand doctrine and engage with the church community by extensive reading, discussions with the Bible study circle and service as a member of The Catholic Daughters. Often she spoke reverently about the outreach of these special friends who welcomed her into their fold.

Our takeaways of this woman are telling. Indeed, she was a beauty with class and style. Who could ignore her sparkle? But underneath the shimmer, at her core as solid as the mighty oak she once climbed, we see her legacy of intangibles; the memories of a life well lived and how to do it right.

Preceding her in death were her beloved husband, parents, and brother “Sonny” Clayton Walters. Margaret is lovingly remembered by surviving family: dear sister, Joyce Eveld of Houston; sons Randy Flournoy (Linda) of Houston, Scott Flournoy (Joan) of Angleton; daughters Gale Butler (Tom) of Lake Jackson, Marcia Flournoy of Pearland. Grandchildren Shawn Flournoy (Catherine) of Round Rock, Keith Flournoy of Houston, Sabrina Pagel (Nick) of Houston, Michelle Butler Jones (Craig) of Plano, David Butler (Amanda) of Austin, Brant Smith (Jessica) of Pearland, and Meagan Casper (James) of Danbury. Greatgrandchildren Mia, Jacob, Payton, Emily, Landon, Lucas, Greyson, Nathan, Collin, Sophie, Lilly, and Carter. A special thank you to Dr. Kim Bloom, Dr.Theresa Vicroy and Dr.Stanley Duchman for their skilled and compassionate care.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 11 at Restwood Funeral Home, 1038 West Plantation Drive, Clute, TX 77531. A vigil and rosary will begin at 6 p.m. with visitation to follow. A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, October 12 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Monsignor Leo Wleczyk officiating.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Shawn Flournoy, Keith Flournoy, David Butler, Brant Smith and nephews Charles Walters and David Eveld. Honorary pallbearers will be nephews Gary Walters and Mark Eveld. If you wish, memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Margaret’s name. The church address is: 100 Oak Drive South, Lake Jackson, TX 77566.