John Collins Flanagan

July 9, 1941 - April 20, 2019

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John Collins Flanagan, 77, passed away on Saturday, April 20th, 2019, after complications from surgery. His children, Timothy and Heather, and his minister, Kate Lore, were present at his death.

John was born on July 9, 1941, in Portland, OR, to Agnes Hopkins Flanagan and George Clemens Flanagan. He joined adopted brothers George and Charles Flanagan. In 1947, the family moved to Medford, OR where George Clemens continued to work for Collins Lumber. John was brought up in the lumber business, learning to run loaders and other heavy machinery at the mill. He graduated from Medford High School in 1959, where he met Pauline Denyer, whom he would later marry.

John attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR prior to transferring to Oregon State University, where he earned a B.S. in 1964. At OSU, he reunited with Pauline Denyer, and they married in 1963.John and Pauline raised two children, Timothy and Heather, in Portland, OR. While the children were still young, John attended Portland State University, attaining a Masters in Social Work in 1969, and he changed his career path from forestry to social work and therapy. He worked at Metropolitan Family Service, St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente. In 1988 he re-started his private therapy practice in Portland, OR, which he continued until his retirement in 2014, when he moved to Port Townsend, WA to be closer to his children and grandchildren.

John loved the woods, the mountains, and the waters of the Pacific Northwest. He was an avid hiker, and enjoyed camping and caving. When their children were young, he and Pauline would take a weeks-long boating trip through the San Juan Islands in Washington state.

John loved music, a love inspired by his mother. He sang in choirs in his beloved Unitarian Church both in Portland, and in his retirement community of Port Townsend. He would often break into song. He loved to write, and attended many writing workshops and classes.

John had a wry sense of humor, and enjoyed word play. He was loyal, and loved deeply. His friends and family knew his quirks and appreciated the depth of his intellect.He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Charles. He is survived by his former spouse Pauline, his brother George, his children Timothy (Julia Rudden) and Heather, and his grandchildren Kiera, Logan, Arwen, Blake and Tristan. He was known to his
grandchildren as “Baba”.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 18th, 2019 at Quimper Unitarian Fellowship in Port Townsend, WA at 11am, followed by a potluck lunch. All who knew and loved John are welcome. Donations in memory of John may be made to Transortium, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band or the Audubon Society.