Brenda Kay Flanagan (Seymour)'s Obituary
Brenda Flanagan, beloved mother, grandmother, companion, sister, niece, and friend departed this life with family at her side on Sunday morning, January 26, 2020, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. She was fifty-eight years, seven months and sixteen days young. Though her passing was unexpected, she lived her life with intention and grace.
The youngest of three children, she was born Brenda Kay Plummer on June 10, 1961, in Springfield, Missouri, to Robert Richard and Lora Ann (Barnett) Plummer. She was raised in Seymour, attended First Baptist Church, and was a graduate of the Seymour High School Class of 1979. In addition to being a homemaker and mother to three young children, Brenda worked outside the home, for a time at H.D. Lee and then in the bakery at Ramey’s Grocery.
In 1995, Brenda began working as a sales associate at Montgomery Ward in Springfield, moving her family there in 1996, to be closer to work. She worked there until 2000, when she took employment with Sears where she would be a faithful and respected employee for the next 17 years. Brenda was diligent and earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Office Systems Technology at Ozark Technical College in 2003. After retirement in 2017, and not being the idle-type, Brenda started working in customer service at Bass Pro and was a current employee at the time of her passing. She always remarked that she really loved her ‘work family’ – and they enjoyed her fun spirit too.
It was in 1999, that she met J.D. Hursh, the man who would be her life partner and companion for 21 years of joy, happiness, romance, and respect. Together they watched their families grow and welcomed grandchildren into their lives. Brenda loved to go fishing and she’d beat J.D. to the car with her pole in hand when it was time to go. She’d completed hundreds of 3-D puzzles, loved Disney and Betty Boop, and was an avid Harry Potter fan. In other spare time, Brenda enjoyed embroidery and gardening. She was an animal lover, especially cats, and adored her black cat, Diva.
Brenda was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Dale and Fern Barnett, her mother, Lora, brother, Richard Plummer, and two uncles, Bethel Barnett and J.R. Davidson.
The family she leaves behind includes her devoted soulmate, J.D. Hursh, of the home in Springfield; two daughters, Patricia Smith of Springfield, and Sondra Flanagan (Zach Bull) of Seymour, son, Jeremy Flanagan of Columbia, Missouri; J.D.’s daughter and son, whom she thought of as her own, Summer Montgomery (Travis) and Billy Jack ‘BJ’ Hursh (Lacy); ten grandchildren and one on the way, Anna, Caleb, Kaylynne, Jackson, Lana, Lora, Ella, Jillian, Tate, Sarah, and Baby Boy Hursh; her brother, Mitch (Terry) Plummer; two aunts, Janice Davidson and Linda Barnett; a niece and three nephews; past and present co-workers, and countless friends and neighbors.
In addition to being a devoted mother, a fun-loving grandma, a loyal companion, a caring sister, aunt, and friend, Brenda earned the title of ‘Super Hero’ when she literally saved the lives of three people with her kidneys and liver, gave the gift of sight with her corneas, and helped countless other people by being an organ donor.
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