In memoriam: Funeral notices, December 14, 2018

DRASSLER, Thelma W.

Died December 8, 2018, at home at the age of 101. Born November 12, 1917 on a dairy farm near Warrensburg, Missouri. One of seven children, her earliest and fondest memories were of helping her father on the dairy, where she learned to drive at age 12 by driving the milk truck. She bravely traveled alone by train to Tucson with her four year old daughter, Evonne, in 1943. She worked at many jobs to support herself and her daughterincluding LeCave's Bakery as an ice cream maker. She met and married the "love of her life", Hugh Flynn, in 1944. Gave birth to daughter Janie, in 1945 at St. Mary's Hospital. They had many wonderful years together. camping, fishing, playing poker, making Mexican Food and raising their family. Thelma worked for Sears Roebuck, The Arizona State Health Dept., and the University of Arizona Department of Microbiology. After she retired in 1968, she volunteered at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic where she learned to use a computer. She became quite proficient on the computer and later used those skills as a volunteer at Villa Maria Care Center - writing residents biographies. She was a wonderful cook, seamstress, baker, bridge player, golfer, and organizer of many things. She was a person who loved life and loved having funfor that reason she was known in the family as "the favorite aunt!" Her favorite game to the very end was rummicubes, morning, noon and night. Special thanks to all the loyal friends and family who joined her in a game of rummicubes hourly, daily, or weekly. She loved to travel and she and her 3rd husband, Ed Drassler, traveled the world. She was a member of the Newman Center Sustaining Board at the University of Arizona and a true Wildcat Fan who never missed a game! Thelma has one surviving sister, Bessie Moore, of Running Springs, California, and she is also survived by daughters, Janie Kirk of Tucson and Evonne McNabb of Westerville, Ohio, as well as 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. A Rosary at St. Thomas Moore Newman Center will be said at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 13, 2018. Funeral Service also at St. Thomas Moore Newman Center at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 15, 2018. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made in her name to Villa Maria Care Center Chapel Foundation, 4310 E. Grant Rd., Tucson, AZ 85712. Arrangements by ANGEL VALLEY FUNERAL HOME.

FLANERY, Randall Keith

age 62, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. He was known by his friends and family as 'Keith'. He is survived by his daughter, Aileen Flanery of Durango, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents, Randall Flanery and Mary Lou Flanery. Keith was born in Bonne Terre, MO on September 12, 1956 and retired from the National Park Service as a law enforcement officer in June 2015. Keith graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Photojournalism in May of 1982. He worked as a photojournalist for The Newton Kansan and received awards for his feature and news photography from the Associated Press in their regional photography competition. Keith later started his own photography studio in Kansas City, MO concentrating in medium format product photography. In 1991 he joined the National Park Service at Olympic National Park. Keith worked as a backcountry ranger at the Queets River Ranger Station and in 1995 he saved the life of a 12-year-old boy who nearly drowned in a river crossing. Keith was presented the Valor Award from the Department of Interior in 1996 for his heroic act. Keith worked at other national park sites such as Great Smoky Mountains, Big Thicket, and at last retired from Chiricahua National Monument. Keith loved to patrol the parks by horse, loved to watch basketball especially if it was rooting for the Jayhawks, was an accomplished marathon runner, and loved to fish. His quick wit will be missed by all. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St Paul's United Methodist Church, 8051 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ with a lunch reception afterwards. Condolences can be sent to his daughter, Aileen Flanery at P.O. Box 1721 Durango, CO 81302. Memorial donations in memory of Keith may be made to St Paul's UMC in Tucson, the National Park Foundation, or to the University of Kansas Alumni Association. Happy Trails Keith!

WILLIAMS, Rev. Robert B.

On November 26, 2018 the Rev. Robert B. Williams passed from the Church Militant here on earth to the Church Expectant. While at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Tucson he led the community in prayer, the struggle to love each other with the love of Christ, the battle for justice, equality, and mercy for all. Now in paradise he joins with the saints in prayer for those who have gone before and who will follow as they await the coming judgment of God whose mercy knows no limit. When the day of judgment comes he will rejoice with those who are ushered into the Church Triumphant in heaven. On Saturday, December 22, 2018 the community of St. Andrew's will gather at the parish at 545 S. 5th Avenue at 11:00 a.m. to remember and celebrate his life and ministry at a requiem Eucharist. Arrangements by BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL