Sarah Lee Flanagan

Her family moved to Houston when she was age 2. She attended schools there, and entered The Rice Institute, now known as Rice University, at age 16. During and after World War II, Rice dispensed with summer school, and classes were uninterrupted for 12 months each year. As a result, she was given her diploma at age 19. In her senior year, she was one of seven female seniors featured in the Vanity Fair (beauty queen section) of the year book.

She remained on campus for one year, working as a secretary in the Chemistry Department. She then was hired as a secretary by the Humble Oil and Refining Company in downtown Houston, now known as Exxon-Mobil.

In 1950 she married Tom Flanagan whom she had met while they were both students at Rice. At the time, he was a management trainee with the National Bank of Commerce, whose principal shareholder was Jesse Jones, a nationally known figure.

In 1957 he became employed by Chavanne Enterprises on the understanding that if they were successful in obtaining a national banking charter of Lake Charles, her husband would become the CEO and eventual Chairman; the charter was granted, and she and her immediate family moved to Lake Charles in 1958.

In 1965 her husband acquired some acreage adjoining the Lake Charles Country Club, and they built a home on that property, and she became an avid golfer. In 1985, she won the ladies golf club championship, and over the years, she held every office in the ladies golf association, including president. In 1998 she also won the ladies senior golf championship at the country club.

In 1976 she was appointed chairperson of the grand jury by the late Judge Warren Hood. On her watch, the labor violence on the Jupiter Chemicals Company took place leaving 3 dead and substantial property damage. Her grand jury returned 60 indictments on various union members, and this unfortunate incident brought about a lasting change in the behavior of organized labor in southwest Louisiana.

From an early age, Sarah had wanted to be an

airline hostess, but in those days, parental consent was required, which was withheld, but she never lost the desire to fly. In about 1980, with her children grown and gone, she took flying lessons. She became instrument rated, and for quite a few years, she would take flying trips all over southwest Louisiana and Texas. She was a member of the Ninety-Niners, whose membership consists of women pilots, at the time of her death.

When she moved to Lake Charles, she put together a bridge foursome that played weekly over a period of about 40 years, but as members quit or moved or died, she lost her bridge foursome. At the insistence of her husband, she took up duplicate bridge, and at one point she was accumulating points almost as fast as anyone in the nation and became a life master in 2005. She served on the board of the Lake Charles Bridge Club, and was still an active participant at the time of her death.

She was a member and sustainer of the Junior League.

Sarah had numerous hobbies and interests. Her hands were constantly busy. Earlier, she was a pianist. She also enjoyed knitting, including knitting for causes, such as woolen caps for servicemen to wear in cold climates. She maintained about 100 plants inside and around her house that required constant care. She was an avid reader, and a daily crossword puzzle fan.

She is survived by her husband, Tom A. Flanagan, Jr., four sons, Dan Flanagan and wife Debbie, of Austin, TX, David Flanagan, DDS and wife Carol of Lake Charles, Michael Flanagan of Houston, TX, Sam Flanagan of Austin, TX, and one daughter, Dinah Bertrand and husband Arthur of Houston, TX, four grandchildren, Judith Flanagan, Thomas Flanagan, Austin Bertrand and Evan Bertrand.

In keeping with her final wishes, she will be cremated and there will be no formal funeral. If friends want to memorialize her in some way, they are encouraged to donate to the charity of their choice.

In death as in life, she was one of a kind. May her soul rest in peace.