Yvonne Keel Flanigan passed away at Florence Nursing and Rehab, Florence Alabama on June 20, 2019. She was born on September 4, 1938 in New Hope Alabama to Harvey Criner Keel and Lorene Maples Keel. She graduated Huntsville High School , Huntsville AL in 1955 and went on to attend Florence State Teacher's College in Florence AL .

Some years later she moved to St. Simons Island Georgia to take a position with Thiokol Corporation. It was there that she met her husband Dr. David Flanigan. They married and moved to Guntersville Alabama and then on to Huntsville Alabama , where she worked at the Kidney Dialysis Unit at Huntsville Hospital . The Flanigans also lived in Naperville IL and Ogden UT until Dr. Flanigan retired in 1999. At that time they moved back to Alabama , living in Athens until last year.

Though she worked as a realtor and at a jewelry store for many years, her real joy was in taking care of her family. She provided a safe, loving, idyllic childhood for her daughter, took excellent care of her husband, and doted on the many dogs she rescued through the years. She was undoubtedly a "tell-it-like-she-saw-it" kind of person, but she would give you the shirt off her back. She was exceptionally generous and funny.

She saw some of Elvis' very first concerts. She always wanted to be a police officer but settled instead for police shows on TV, as she would have undoubtedly had to carry her one bullet around in her pocket like Barney Fife. She loved the Cubs, the Braves, and the Crimson Tide. She proclaimed the Oregon Coast the most beautiful place she'd ever been. She craved rain like some people crave doughnuts. She sat in her daughter's backyard and blew bubbles for her dogs, and played soccer with the foster kids. Though anxiety shaped the last 20 years of her life, preventing her from doing a lot of things she surely wanted to do, she never let her family down and bravely showed up for every event that was planned, no matter how she may have been struggling that day. She was an extraordinary mom.

The Flanigans were married for 51 years, sharing a room at the nursing home and ultimately passing within 26 hours of each other.

Mrs. Flanigan leaves behind her beloved Uncle Charles G. Maples of Huntsville AL , brother-in-law Alan Harry Flanigan (Beverley) of Alexandria VA , her daughter Kellie Flanigan Clement of Littleville AL, and son-in-law Donald Gregory Clement who was her trusted friend, caretaker, and son. She is also survived by granddaughter Savannah Elaine Clement.

She was proceeded in death by her p0arents, her sister-in-law Faith Flanigan Lee, and her brother-in-law Jesse Ray Lee.

Per her wishes, there will be no formal services. In lieu of condolences sent to the family, please consider a donation to the rescue where they adopted their last dog, Buttons. He was the apple of her eye.

Madison Small Pups Rescue and Adoption
8000 Madison Blvd. Suite D 102 #141
Madison AL 35758

The family would like to thank Dr. Bardi Naeini and especially the staff of Florence Nursing and Rehab for the love, respect and excellent care they gave Mrs. Flanigan, especially those who would come into her room at night and hold her hand and talk. We would also like to thank Comfort Care Hospice and in particular Candace Ivey for their unwavering support. We will forever be grateful.