Joan Ruth Flanagan Flynn

Joan Ruth Flanagan Flynn passed peacefully in Austin, Texas, on September 11, 2016, at the age of 86. A funeral mass will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Odessa, Texas on November 12, 2016. Her unbounded generosity, wisdom and wit will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Joan was born in Springdale, Arkansas, on September 8, 1930 to Ruth Mayes Flanagan and Joe Flanagan. She studied at St. John's School of Radiology in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She met Jack Michael Flynn in Tulsa, and they married on June 25th, 1955 and remained married until Jack's death in 1981.

After getting married, they moved to Denver, Colorado, where Jack worked for Sinclair Oil. Together they raised three daughters and a son. In 1972 the family moved to Odessa, Texas where Joan worked for Midland Memorial Hospital and Jack worked for Dresser Industries. They were active members of St Mary's Catholic Church and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

During her 30 years as a resident of Odessa, Joan cultivated strong relationships and friendships around her passions for spirituality and psychology. She always had a heart for social justice and building community and this was evident in how she lived her life.

In 1985 Joan was one of the founding board members of what is now known as the West Texas Food Bank. She was the Director of Catholic Charities in Odessa from 1989 to 1993. When she retired, she established an adult literacy program, Partners in Learning and organized their VISTA Volunteer Program. Joan received the W.D. Noel Volunteer of the Year Award for 2001- 2002.

In 2006, Joan moved to Pflugerville, Texas, where she became an active member of the Cambridge Villas Community. She was the first editor of the Cambridge Chronicle Newsletter. She enjoyed getting together with her neighbors and started a monthly Wine Tasting Event and Garden Club.

She is survived by her sister Joyce Ziegler Emery of Tulsa, Oklahoma, her brother William Flanagan and wife Barbara of Fayetteville, Arkansas; her four children: Michelle Hungerford and husband Donald of Austin, Texas, Tom Flynn and wife Susan of Rogers, Arkansas, Kathleen Schoon and husband Chris of Shueyville, Iowa, Christie Flynn and husband Pete of Tacoma, Washington; four grandchildren, the Rev. Eric Hungerford and wife Shyla of LaGrange, Texas, Catalina Hungerford of Austin, Texas and Henry and Joomee Flynn-Simon of Tacoma, Washington: and two great grandchildren, Origen and Una Hungerford of LaGrange, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities, 2500 Andrews Hwy., Odessa, Texas 79761 or West Texas Food Bank, 411 South Pagewood Ave., Odessa Texas 79761.