Hollis Russell Flanagan, Jr. passed away on November 30, 2023 at the age of 80. Russ was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky on July 25, 1943. After high school, Russ joined the U.S. Airforce. Between 1961 and 1965, he was stationed in Texas, Louisiana, Germany, and Alaska. While visiting his brother in Nashville during a six-week leave, Russ met his future wife, Janet. What began as a poolside crush blossomed into love during Russ’s leave. They continued their long-distance courtship when Russ returned to Alaska and married at the end of his enlistment a year later. Their friends made a bet that the marriage would not last. But Russ and Janet proved them wrong by remaining married for 58 years.
In the mid-1960s, Russ traded his Air Force uniform for a briefcase and began his sales career. He spent the ‘60s and ‘70s in the wild-and-crazy music industry. He switched to the equally crazy real estate industry in the 1980s where he and Janet became a successful husband-and-wife team.
Russ became a Christian later in life. He spent the last 30 years making up for lost time as a husband, father, and grandfather. Russ has two adult children, Sean and Kellie, and five grandchildren. He loved sharing very long stories about their antics and adventures with anyone who would listen. Russ was a member of Victory Baptist Church. He and Janet loved making weekly Meals-On-Wheels deliveries together.
In January 2011, Russ was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer. He spent 2011 doing two things: 1) fighting lung cancer, and 2) creating a bucket list. He vowed to beat cancer so he could get busy crossing items off this list. Since 2011, Russ was blessed by many second chances at life by beating the odds more times than he could count.
Russ is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Janet, his son, Robert Sean (Reena) Flanagan, his daughter Kellie (Dale) McIntyre, and his grandchildren, Brennan Flanagan, Delaney (William) Tapscott, Riley McIntyre, Chipper Smith, and Caitlyn Smith. He is survived by siblings Mary Parrish, Ray (Angie) Flanagan, Patricia Flanagan, Bill (Beverly) Brownfield, Willia (John) Hennigan, Joe Brownfield, and longtime friends, Dennis and Gloria Jenkins. Russ is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Hollis Russell Flanagan, Sr. and Genevieve Brownfield, brother, Jim Brownfield, and sister, Susan Flanagan Wright. A special thanks to Dr. Canonico who was instrumental in helping Russ to beat the odds many times.
Visitation will be at Hermitage Memorial Gardens, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, Tennessee 37138 on Friday, December 15 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 16 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. The Celebration of Life will be at Hermitage Memorial Gardens on Saturday, December 16 at noon. Military Honors and Entombment will follow at Hermitage Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tunnels to Towers, Victory Baptist Church, or Charity of Choice.
