Corsicana Daily Sun
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Margie French Flynn, 89, passed from this life to her eternal rest on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. She was born Dec. 8, 1922 in the Irene Community of Hill County, Texas. She was the daughter of Fred Wesley French and Alice Arlene Selby French. The French family was early settlers in northwestern Navarro County. She spent many of her early years in the Brushie Prairie, Dresden and Spring Hill Communities. Margie chaired the committee responsible for obtaining a Texas State Historical Marker in Commemoration of the First 100 years of the Brushie Prairie United Methodist Church.
On June 21, 1943, Margie married Charlie L. Flynn. After Charlie returned from overseas, they made their home in Corsicana, Texas. On June 21, 2008, they celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary. Charlie passed to his rest on Dec. 31, 2008.
After Margie's father died when she was 5 years old, she was reared by a Mother whose formal education was limited, but read all her life and highly valued education. She modeled that love for Margie who was a natural teacher and leader all her life. Mrs. Flynn was always the room mother chair. She was president of every level of Parent Teacher Association, PTA, in Corsicana and Navarro County — including Chairman of the Navarro County Council of PTA.
A natural leader, she never served a community, support or charitable organization for which she was not president or chairman at least once — including the first Corsicana Parks Commission, Drane Junior High Band Parents Association, Corsicana High School Band Parents Association, March of Dimes and American Heart Association.
At First Baptist Church, Corsicana, where she served her Lord through a variety of positions for over 60 years, Mrs. Flynn was director of many different Sunday School and Training Union Departments — the third grade department became her special love. She was the Third Grade Director for over 30 years. Desperate parents of teenagers who had rebelled against attending Sunday School often brought their Kiddos to her and she would put them to work directly with the third graders. Many of her former students, “teachers,” and their children and grandchildren currently hold positions of leadership in FBC, Corsicana. Her own Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Sharon Goodman, was one of her students.
The Great Commission was real to Margie and the Women's Missionary Union was always a special place of service for her. She was repeatedly Chairman or Missions Leader of her Circle and often served as Navarro County Associational WMU Director. She was always involved in Sunbeams, Girl's Auxiliary, Week of Prayer, Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong, Mary Hill Davis State Missions, and local community missions-in-action activities.
As co-owner with her husband of Flynn Bookkeeping and Tax Services, she was an accountant for more than 65 years. Margie always enjoyed the people she worked with more than the numbers.
After Charlie’s death in 2008, she found a new calling as a Certified Volunteer Ombudsman for North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging. Through this program, she advocated for Long-Term Care Residents by regularly visiting with Sterling House Residents and administrators.
Margie was always a busy Christian lady who placed others before herself, but antiquing trips with her daughter, Ailsa, brought both of them great fun and fellowship. The hunt for the perfect find was always secondary to the knowledge exchanged and friendships deepened with dealers from all over the country.
Even after she was required to use oxygen, Margie could still be seen actively participating in her assorted interests — often driving Charlie's pickup!
Mrs. Flynn was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Wesley and Alice Arlene Selby French; husband of 65 years, Charlie L. Flynn; brothers, Hershel French and Edwin French; special niece, Meg Flynn; and numerous dear family and friends including Alyne French, Dortha Harden Flynn, Joe Sims, C. G. Rash, and many members of the Roy and Christine Bristow First Baptist Church Couples' Class.
Survivors include her daughter, Ailsa Margette Flynn Anderson and husband, Guy W. Anderson, Jr.; foster son, John Wesley French and wife Juanita of Austin; special nephew, Johnny Carl Flynn and wife Elaine of Tahoka and their daughter Kelly of Fort Worth; niece and nephew, Janis French and Don French; nephew, Herschel Fred French; sister-in-law, Annie Ruth Robison; numerous French and Flynn nieces and nephews; special neighbors, the Daniel Rivas family; dear friends, the Sam Lou family; and dear Christian sisters of the First Baptist Church, Adult 3, Ruth Sunday School Class.
Visitation with the family will be Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Corley Funeral Home.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012 at First Baptist Church, Corsicana with Dr. Danny Reeves and Rev. B. F. Risinger, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. Pallbearers are Chuck Burns, Norman Gilcrease, Bill Honea, Tom Lucas, Scott Middleton, Richard Rash, J. Waterman, and K.C. "Kim" Wyatt. Honorary pallbearers will be Nathan Benefield, Joe Bob Tekell, Tom Boyd, Jay Justice, J. R. Murray, and Leo Bradshaw.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Missions Program, 510 West Collin Street, Corsicana, TX 75110.
An online guestbook is available at www.corleyfuneralhome.com by selecting the Margie Flynn obituary.
Arrangements by Corley Funeral Home, Corsicana.
