Richard Odell Flaningam

First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Richard Flaningam who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life, possessing traditional morals. Richard was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Richard knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his family.

Richard was born on January 4, 1934 at Dahl Maternity Home in Alhambra, California. His parents were Walter and Elizabeth. Richard was raised in Grants Pass Oregon.

As a young boy, Richard was able to put his natural abilities to work. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Richard was raised with one sibling, Nancy. Richard had an appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility.

As a young boy, Richard enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Richard took part in Basketball and Football. In his spare time he liked to spend time with his sister.

In school, Richard tried to be a model student. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. Richard was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. He graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1951. His favorite class in high school was typing and drama classes. The teachers he enjoyed learning from the most were Coaches Anderson and Davis, Drama Teacher Mr. Johnson. He received "Best Player Honor" at the Annual Lions Football Banquet for "Best lineman, tight end and pass receiver."

Richard’s practical work ethic carried over into his college years. He worked hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. He would tackle an assignment and work through it. When Richard saw the need or benefit, he would take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. He earned his Surveying degree at Oregon Technical Institute. His favorite courses were English, Drama Class and acting in plays. His favorite professors were his Football Coach and the Dean of Men. He received a football scholarship and a try out with the Oakland Raiders.

Richard was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Richard came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were Howard Quinton from the football team, Pat Ford, Robert Butcher, Jerry Jordan and Mel Brown. Later in life, he became friends with Chuck, Glen, Stu, Daryl, Bill, Shawn, KD and all the other Kiwanis members throughout the years and all his buddies from the Senior Swingers golf club.

On November 6, 1954 Richard exchanged wedding vows with Audre Rae McElwain at the First Methodist Church of Neveda.

Richard loved his children very much. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Richard would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Richard was blessed with two children, son Mark and daughter Carol. He was also blessed with two granddaughters, Autumn and Anne.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Richard was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Richard was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Richard upheld his standards. He was the owner of Janitorial Specialists. He started at the company by answering a part time ad for employment and worked his way up the ladder until he became the owner of the company. Richard's motto was "Do Something, either Lead, Follow or Get out of the Way.”

Richard was an Army Veteran. He was in the Army from 1956 to 1962. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Sargent. Richard had a top secret clearance and received an Honorable Discharge.

Richard enjoyed his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. He appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were Golf, working around the house and spending time with his family, especially his granddaughters. Richard was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Richard to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. In high school, Richard played basketball and football. In his college years, Richard continued to stay active by playing football. Recreational sports included golf, bowling, tennis and bike riding. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football and golf.

Being generous with his time and energy, Richard liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. He was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. Throughout his later years, Richard was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of East Denver.

Favorite family vacations were any kind of trip that included a stop in Reno or Vegas.

Richard was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of his favorites was Simba the cat and his miniature schnauzers, Missy and Katie.

Richard retired in Thornton, Colorado in 1996. In retirement, he enjoyed golfing and trips to Black hawk. In many ways, Richard loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

In 2011, Richard had medical issues and came to live with his son, Mark and daughter-in-law Rhonda.

Richard passed away on December 21, 2014 at Tru Hospice in Lafayette, Colorado. He fell and broke his hip and was unable to recover from the surgery. He is survived by his son Mark, daughter Carol and two granddaughters, Autumn and Anne. Services were held at Olinger Highland Mortuary. Richard was laid to rest in Olinger Highland Cemetary in Thornton, Colorado.

He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Richard Odell Flaningam did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.