Shawn Patrick Flynn's Obituary
Beloved Shawn Patrick Flynn, age 55, passed away at his home in Memphis,Tennessee on September 18,2023, surrounded by his family. Shawn valiantly and quietly fought GIST, a rare sarcoma cancer. He remained determined and hopeful until the end, working up until his last days. He endured countless treatments, clinical trials and surgeries to beat the uphill battle cancer presented to him. He gave it his all until the end, and has left an amazing legacy of fortitude, courage, tenacity, and strength to his children.
Shawn Patrick Flynn was born November 29, 1967 in Seneca Falls, New York to Patrick Thomas Flynn and Lucille Ann Flynn (Zaso). Shawn grew up in Central New York where he enjoyed spending summers at his family’s cottage on Cayuga Lake. He graduated from Rush-Henrietta High School in Henrietta, New York in 1985. After graduation, Shawn joined the United State Marine Corp. After completing boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina, Shawn was stationed at Twenty nine Palms, California at the USMC Air Ground Task Force Command and Combat Center. After completing his military service, Shawn continued his education, studying Business Administration at the University of Southern California. Shawn often said the mental strength and fortitude he learned while serving in the USMC was the true catalyst to his later professional success. He would say, “I might not be the smartest one in the room, but I doubt there is anyone in the room that can outwork me.” He used that mental fortitude in his toughest battle, the one against cancer. He fought longer and harder than most, and would leave doctors and nurses in awe as he worked his phone and laptop during treatments. Towards the end, when his doctor suggested he might need to consider hospice, he left the appointment, looked at his wife, Gretta,and said, “They are just a bunch of quitters.” He was a fighter.
Shawn met his wife Gretta in Key West, Florida. They married in March of 2003. Key West was one of Shawn’s favorite places, and as a family they enjoyed spending their summers in the Florida Keys each year. Shawn loved being on the water. It was in these weeks each year in Key West, that Shawn could recharge his batteries and press pause on an otherwise intensely driven personality. Shawn was meticulous in all that he did and was. He loved dressing well and was known to say “If you want to be president, you need to look presidential”, or “You only get one chance to make a first impression”. His idea of “relaxed” attire was a starched linen shirt and shorts.
Anyone who worked with Shawn knew the passion and love he had for the business and his team. Shawn spent 21 years working for TruGreen. Shawn joined TruGreen in 2002 as a general manager and quickly rose through the ranks. He later served as Senior Vice President for the South Division and then as Chief Revenue Officer. Most recently he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer for TruGreen. Because of all of the opportunities for advancement, Shawn and his family relocated many times. Early on, Shawn and his wife agreed together, they would not say no to opportunities that would allow them to provide a better quality of life for their children. Shawn believed one of the best lessons these moves would teach his family was learning to “be comfortable being uncomfortable.” Shawn always had words of wisdom, was a voracious reader, and a true proponent of education and self-development. He was also a whole lot of fun. He knew when to be serious, but he also knew how to unwind. He was just energy, joy and optimism. He did not believe in pity or feeling sorry for one’s self. The constant message in their family anytime a challenge was presented was to improvise, adapt, and overcome. He ingrained those lessons in his children, and it made him so proud to see them putting those things into action in their own lives.
Shawn is survived by his wife Gretta Flynn and their children Patrick, Caitlin, and Molly. He is also survived by his father,Patrick Thomas Flynn, of Seneca Falls, New York, his mother Lucille Flynn of Rochester, New York, his sister Colleen[Weston]Oliphant of Viera, Florida, and half- brother Rory Flynn of Rochester, New York. He is also survived by his in-laws Jack and Vera Lauterbach, Craig[Laura] Lauterbach, Jack[Andrea] Lauterbach, Jr. and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces,nephews, friends, and colleagues.
Another one of Shawn’s colloquialisms was “Be brief, be bright, and be done.” Regretfully this was probably neither brief nor bright, and we are truly not ready to be done. Shawn was so loved by all who knew him, and he will be greatly missed…especially his laugh and sense of humor.
The Flynn family would like to thank all of the medical professionals at Baptist Cancer Center, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for their tireless support, understanding, encouragement and compassion during Shawn’s illness. We would like to say a special thank you to Dr. Clyde Jones who was with us for the entirety of his cancer battle and was a trusted guide in all of his treatments.
A visitation will be held from 5:00pm-7:00pm on Monday October 16,2023 at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Avenue, in Memphis, Tennessee. The funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am on October 17, 2023 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Cordova, Tennessee. A private Interment will be held at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery.
The Family requests that donations be made in his honor to either The American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children Research Hospital, or The Life Raft Group-a non-profit organization focused specifically on research and finding a cure for Shawn’s rare type of cancer.
What’s your fondest memory of Shawn?
What’s a lesson you learned from Shawn?
Share a story where Shawn's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Shawn you’ll never forget.
How did Shawn make you smile?