Bill Flanary

Billy Keith Flanary passed away on Saturday, December 15, 2017, at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Plano. He was 78. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at Immanuel Baptist Church with Reverend Steve Gunter officiating. Bill was born on February 26, 1939, in Cooper, Texas, to Minnie Mildred (Doolin) and C. V. Flanary, Sr. He graduated from Cooper High School and attended Paris and Texarkana Junior Colleges. He graduated from The University of Texas with a B.B.A. Degree and graduated from The University of Texas School of Law with a Juris Doctor Degree in 1969. He married Linda Lou Baker on June 25, 1960. They enjoyed 57 years of marriage. He worked as an Assistant to Attorney General John Hill in Austin and gained much notoriety in the 1970s investigating Texas nursing home abuses and inadequate care. Bill later joined his brother, C. V. Flanary, Jr., in the practice of law in Paris, Texas, and later became a sole practitioner. Bill dedicated his practice to the common working men and women, the less fortunate, the downtrodden and the underprivileged. His wife, Linda, was his legal secretary until he retired from the practice of law earlier this year. Bill was active in his church, Immanuel Baptist Church, where his wife, Linda, was the pianist for a time. He was formerly a member of the First Baptist Church. In 1988, The Sanctuary Five, a gospel singing group, was formed with Bill as the lead singer, along with Roy Gibson, Dr. Ed Shaeffer, and Glen Books. Bill's wife, Linda, was the accompanist. Bill enjoyed playing golf, traveling and spending time with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Linda, his son Michael Sean Flanary, his daughter, Linda Michelle Flanary, their special friend and caretaker, Susan Ruff Dodd, and several nieces and nephews. Upon his retirement, Bill wrote the following: "I have stood for the weak and the poor. I have stood for those who toil and sweat. I have lived my life and I have fought my battles, not against the weak and poor, for anyone can do that. But I have stood in the gap and fought against power, injustice, inequality, prejudice, and oppression. Edmund Burke, an Irish Statesman, said, 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.'" Bill continued, "I tried to do something." In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to The Immanuel Baptist Church. Cremation was under the care and direction of Bright-Holland Funeral Home.