Reverend Richard Michael Flynn

Reverend Richard Michael Flynn passed away at his home on Sunday, January 15, 2012 following a long illness. Father Flynn was born April 4, 1944 to the late Thomas Theodore Flynn, Jr. and the late Helen Brown Flynn in Memphis, TN. He grew up in Tennessee, New Mexico and California. Father Flynn received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the South and a Master of Arts in English from Memphis State University and a Master of Divinity from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. Father Flynn taught at Columbia Military Academy for 1 year and in the Memphis public school system for 7 years prior to seeking his theological degree. He was ordained as an Episcopal Priest in 1979. He served parishes in Knoxville, Brownsville, Ripley and Union City Tennessee. He served as Rector for Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchitoches from 1998 – 2004. Father Flynn served as a prison minister in Tennessee, chaplain for the Tennessee Highway Patrol and a trustee for the University of The South prior to his move to Louisiana. Father Flynn was a member of the Rotary Club for 27 years. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 45 years, Janet Potts Flynn; daughters Kelly Flynn Hines and her husband Owen and Jennifer Flynn Galey and her husband Chris; his son, Thomas Bradford Flynn; grandsons, Aidan and Tucker Hines; granddaughter, Addison Galey; brother, Dr. Thomas B. Flynn and his wife Linda; sister, Cela Spencer; nephews, Sean and Rhys Flynn; niece Heidi Flynn Barnett; and sister-in-law D’Ann E. Potts. A mass will be celebrated at 2 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchitoches. The family will receive friends from 5 pm until 7 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home. In lieu of floral tributes, the Flynn family would like contributions be made to the Bishops Discretionary Fund C/O Trinity Episcopal Church, 533 2nd Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 or to American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004