Frances Jeanetta Flynn

Frances Jeanetta Essex Flynn was born March 11, 1929 to Audrey Lee and Thomas Leon Essex in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She passed from this life in Waco, Texas on October 10, 2024 at the grand age of 95. She is very much missed by her dearly loved family and friends.

Frances, better known as Fran to her friends and Mom to her children, moved with her family from Oklahoma to Fort Worth, Texas at the age of five. She graduated from Paschal High School in 1947 and worked at Fort Worth National Bank until her marriage to Warren Flynn, the eldest son of her beloved Methodist minister, in April of 1948. Their first born, Cheryl Ann, was born in 1949, followed by Michael Warren in 1952, and Deborah Kay in 1956.

During this time, the world began to radically change from norms held by our culture for hundreds of years as more and more wives and mothers entered the workforce, yet Mom delighted in her chosen role as stay-at-home wife and mother. She simply loved to serve her husband and her children and she did it well. She fed us, clothed us, and was always there for us, in the good times and the tough times of our lives. She was there for Dad during his battle with cancer. She strove to keep the family together and thriving. She was there for her children and grandchildren for every milestone in our lives, every celebration, if not in body then in spirit and much prayer.

Mom was never happier than when she was surrounded by her family, but when not with family, she bubbled over with life as she laughed and visited with all of her wonderful friends. We are so grateful to all of you that loved her and helped to make her life so full of joy!

The last few years were hard on Mom. She suffered a broken shoulder at the age of 91. She recuperated from that and soon bravely tackled the next step in her life; she sold her much loved home in Temple, left her dear friends at her home church there and joined Debi at her home in Waco. Next came a fall that fractured her right hip which, once again, she overcame with much courage and determination. But, sadly, six months exactly before her death, she suffered another fall, another broken hip, this time much more severe and much harder to overcome. Yet, using the full measure of her last remaining strength and all her faith and leaning on all the prayers of family and friends, she overcame even that. Mom was one tough, amazing lady!

Now the Lord, in his incredible love and mercy, has called her home and given her rest. We miss her, we love her and we want her back, but really, we all know she would not choose, now, to come back. What she would choose, though, is to have each one of us, in our time, to join her in Glory.

Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1.

Mom is survived by her three children, Cheryl, Mike, and Debi, Cheryl's husband Ron, and Debi's husband Ferrell. She had 8 much loved grandchildren, Jason, Jeremy, Jesse, Will, Whitney, Hannah, Rachel, and Adam and their spouses. 23 great-grandchildren blessed her life mightily, with 4 of them having added their spouses to the family. At her passing Fran had 2 great-great-grandchildren, with 1 more on the way!

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-Honorary Pallbearers -

Jason Schocke

Jeremy Schocke

Jesse Schocke

William Yeokum

Adam Flynn

Kyle Stewart

Nick Sears

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-Mom's Favorite Scripture-

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6