Dann Oliver Flynn

Dann Oliver Flynn, born February 13, 1956, passed away late Friday night, January 23, 2026, after a courageous battle with leukemia. He died peacefully at home, in the arms of his wife, Dianne, and surrounded by the love of his family.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Dianne; his children, Zeke Baucum (Brenda), Melissa Raffensperger (Cody), David Baucum (Kim), Bo Flynn (Erica), and Nick Baucum (Ashley); and his cherished grandchildren, Victor, Lexi, Colton, Ian, Jackson, Nathan, Aurora, Athena, Arianna, Ana, Rowan, Ashton, and Angel (Gilbert). He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Kay Flynn (Hastings).

He is also survived by his sisters, Debbie Hightower (Ed) and Linda Gross (Ray); Dianne’s sister, Kay Toraño (Frank); his uncle, Robert Flynn (Sandra); and nieces and nephews—Sandi, Nancy, Colin, Jennifer, Jamie, Francisco, and Ignacio—and their families. Danny leaves behind what feels like hundreds of cousins and thousands of friends, all of whom were touched by his kindness, generosity, and love of life.

Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, Danny enjoyed an active childhood, riding his bicycle, playing flag football, and serving as a catcher on his Little League baseball team, coached by his father. Curious and sometimes mischievous, he once brought a baby alligator home and placed it in the bathtub—where his mother later made the startling discovery.

Danny moved to Tallahassee in 1968, where he attended Rickards High School and was known for his humor, kindness, and easygoing nature. He played coronet in the school band. He graduated in 1974. Following high school, Danny went on to build a long and dedicated career with Frito-Lay.

Even after retirement, Danny’s strong work ethic never slowed him down. He followed his passions by opening his own lawn care business and managing his rental properties, taking pride in staying busy and doing things well.

Danny lived his life as he loved his family—fully, completely, and without reservation. His devotion to those he loved was evident in everything he did, and his presence was a steady source of warmth, laughter, and generosity. He was an active member of the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival, running the Horseshoe Championship games for more than 15 years. He loved to play the mandolin and spent many meaningful hours learning and growing as a musician under the tutelage of Mickey Abraham and accompanying his friend, Dean Newman. Danny loved his pets, most recently Sampson, his golden retriever, and Dew Drop, his lap cat. Danny also found happiness in the simple pleasures—driving his pontoon boat up and down the Sopchoppy River, surrounded by the beauty of nature, and opening his home to friends.

He had an extensive circle of friends and took great pride in bringing people together. Danny was always ready to host a gathering filled with conversation, music, and laughter. More than anything, Danny loved traveling with his beloved Dianne. Together, they journeyed to music festivals far and wide, took road trips across the United States, and found joy even in the simplest drives along the backroads of Franklin and Wakulla counties. There was never a road—especially if it was dirt or single-laned—that Danny didn’t want to explore. Every trip was an adventure, and every mile was made better simply by being together.

Danny’s greatest legacy is the love he gave so freely to his family, his friends, and everyone lucky enough to cross his path. He showed those around him how to live fully, work hard, laugh often, and cherish the simple joys of life. His memory will continue to travel with us, down back roads and rivers, through music, laughter, and stories shared for years to come. “The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.”

There will be a celebration of Danny’s life at his home on February 14, at 1:00 p.m., which will include a short music program at 1:30 p.m., followed by a shrimp fry and a voluntary potluck. Your presence is appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to World Central Kitchen (donate.wck.org) in memory of Danny Flynn.