Date of death: 9/5/2023
Saint Meinrad Class: PD 2005
James F. Flynn (Jim) left this Earth on September 5, 2023, having just completed 83 years of faithful service from Aug. 20, 1940 to Sept. 5, 2023. The adult Catholic life includes invitations to consider either of two vocations marked with a sacrament – holy orders or marriage. Jim managed to receive both sacraments while answering that invitation three separate times. He first celebrated the sacrament of marriage on August 31, 1963 with Kathleen Carney. Over 30-plus years of marriage, they raised five children: James (Jody), Edward (Tracy), John (Annie), Michael and Maureen Beckwith (Rick). Following Kathy’s passing, Jim again celebrated the sacrament of marriage with Betsy Bender, his friend, partner and caregiver since June 8, 1996. Jim and Betsy parented four kids: Jennifer, Matthew, Stephanie Herron (Chris) and Jo Beth Bootz (Brad). From those nine children, Jim and Betsy were blessed with 26 grandchildren ranging in age from 25 to 9 years old. They are, in order of age: Katie Flynn, Jessica Slavin (Andy), Patrick Flynn, Kaitlin Flynn, Ellie Flynn, Brendan Flynn, Hannah Nelson, Kate Flynn, Molly Flynn, Anna Flynn, Maggie Flynn, Tara Flynn, Julia Flynn, Colleen Flynn, Willow Griffin, Connor Herron, Branson Griffin, Jack Flynn, Rorke Beckwith, Avery Griffin, Ryan Flynn, Jorga Beckwith, Rebekah Bootz, Molly Griffin, Ellie Bootz and Bryana Griffin. To each of them, Jim was their beloved G-Pop or Jas. Jim, or Seamus as they endearingly called him, is also survived by sisters Eleanor Gallagher Daly, Aileen Randag and Patricia (Titi) Miller.
Predeceasing Jim were his parents, Eleanor and Edward, his brother, Edward, his sister, Sheila Blank, and his wife, Kathy.
Jim’s third vocation was the sacrament of holy orders received when he was ordained a deacon in the Catholic Church in July 2005. For 10-plus years, he served as a deacon at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Evansville. He blended official deaconate duties with continuous volunteering for St. Benedict Parish specifically and for the Evansville community generally.
A special passion for Jim was the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a worldwide organization of lay Catholics following Christ’s call to serve the poor, the suffering and the deprived. He worked tirelessly for the Evansville Society. Jim found a special group of Catholic brothers and sisters through a Cursillo weekend in 1979, and he maintained his connection to the men’s group formed as a result of that experience. Jim was also a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Beyond his family and his faith, Jim was an accomplished attorney for 45 years, most of which was spent with the same law firm that operated the longest under the name Newman, Trockman, Lloyd, Flynn & Rheinlander. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame for both undergrad and law, marking another source of great passion.