Shirley Ann Linsman Flanagan

Shirley Ann Linsman Flanagan, age 86 of Paris, TN, stepped into eternity on Sunday, November 13, 2022.

She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church and loved her Lydia Dorcus Sunday School class.  Her secretarial career started at the Holley Carburetor plant and advanced through jobs at Emerson Electric, the Mitchum Company, and finally at Lowes Southern Clay where she held the position of Office Manager for many years until its closing in 1991.  She then served her community as the Welcome Wagon representative in the 90’s, visiting newcomers to Henry County.  She was a former member of National Secretaries Association, a member of the Four Seasons Garden Club, and Beta Sigma Phi.

Born October 5, 1936, to Plase Frederick and Alma Prentyce Ray Linsman, an only child raised on a farm, Shirley learned the value of hard work in the fields of corn, cotton, and tobacco.  She was always very proud of her century farm in Paris which is now 201 years old.

Shirley also married an only child, the late Gus Dorrell Flanagan, in 1954.  They were the loving parents of three children, Jacqueline Staser of Germantown, TN, Bruce (Brenda) Flanagan of Lexington, TN, and Kim (Carl) Anderson of Paris, TN.

After raising her children, Shirley engaged in floral and home decorating and became an avid fan of the University of Tennessee Volunteers and St. Louis Cardinals.  Her happy places were the Cumberland Mountains and the Gulf coast.  She loved traveling and camping with her husband until he needed a caregiver, and for many years she showed the entire family exactly how to do that.

Other survivors include her nine grandchildren, John (Claudia) Anderson, Michael (Claudette) Anderson, Michelle (Josh) McClain, Nicole (Wes) Overman, Jimi-Lynn (Thomas) Clark, Lesly (Jonathan) Sherman, Amy (Michael) Hull, Angela Smith, and Damon Staser; and her 22 great grandchildren, Greg & Austin McClain, Taylor, Max, Shelby, & Jase Anderson, Micah & Elliot Smith, Thomas, Liam, & Jacob Clark, Tyler, Katelyn, & Lydia Sherman, Noah & Lily Claire Hull, Andrew Overman, and Ava, Sophie, Aidan, Jaxon, & Camila Anderson.

Besides her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her great granddaughter, Adalynn Paige Anderson; and son-in-law, Daniel Ray Staser.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 17, 2022, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church, 313 N. Poplar Street, Paris TN 38242.  The funeral service will be Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church, with Dr. Trent Bullock officiating.

Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park in Paris, TN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her most recent passion, the REAL Hope Youth Center, PO Box 283, Paris TN 38242 or to First Baptist Church Children & Youth Ministries, 313 N Poplar Street, Paris TN 38242.