William E. Flanagan, Jr.
A memorial service for William E. Flanagan Jr. was held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church in Claremore.
William Ervin Flanagan, Jr., known as “Bill” to his family and friends, passed away on April 12, 2023, at the age of 77 after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born on Aug. 26, 1945 in Hugo, Okla., to William and Charlene (Hayes) Flanagan. He attended Hugo High School graduating in 1964, both as an outstanding student and athlete. He went on to study accounting at Southeastern State University in Durant on a football scholarship, later enlisting in the Army National Guard. He graduated from Officer Candidate School as a Lieutenant, spending six years as a medic both for the Army National Guard and Army Reserves. He married Connie Thomas in 1966 and moved to Tulsa where he worked for AMOCO and earned his CPA license. In 1973 they moved to Claremore where he began working for a local accounting firm, later establishing his own public accounting practice in Claremore, which he owned and operated for 35 years.
In 2009, Bill married Mary “Lou” Truitt. Soon after Bill’s retirement in 2013, he completed the late Mickey Perry’s mayoral term and subsequently ran for two more four-year terms, serving Claremore nearly a decade as mayor.
Bill was active on many committees and boards, and was recipient of numerous awards. A few of them include trustee on the Rogers State University Foundation and board chairman of Hope Harbor Children’s Home for 20 years. He also served many years on the Claremore Park Board of Directors and was also a Charter member of Claremore Rotary Club. In 2004, Mayor Flanagan was named Claremore Citizen of the Year. In 2014 he received the Claremore Chamber of Commerce Career Achievement Award, and recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rogers County GOP. At the state level, he was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Oklahoma State Board of Education, was a trustee for both the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs (OCPA), and the Oklahoma Liberty Foundation. In 2018, he received the prestigious Pillar Award from OCPA for his service. In his spare time Bill enjoyed following politics, attending events that promoted his community, traveling, playing Sudoku and spending time with his family. He was a longtime member of the Claremore Church of Christ.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William Flanagan and Charlene Crain; late wife, Connie Flanagan, sister, Judy Rogers and infant grandson, Kai Flanagan.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou; children: Bo Flanagan and wife, Tanja; bonus children: Matt Truitt, and Tiffany Fitzsimmons and husband, Matt; sister, Kathy (Flanagan) Shearer, and brothers: Jim Flanagan and Rick Flanagan. He also leaves behind grandchildren: Jaxon Truitt, Romy Flanagan, Lucy and Alice Fitzsimmons and other relatives and friends.
Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to: Hope Harbor Children’s Home, PO Box 1047, Claremore OK, 74018, hopeharborinc. org. His House Ministries, PO Box 2040, Claremore OK, 74018, hishouseoutreachministries. org. View and sign Bill’s online memorial at MMS - Payne Funeral Home & Cremation.
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