Emma Clare Flynn of Tyler, Texas

Emma Clare Flynn, 72, departed this world surrounded by family and friends after a heroic battle with leukemia in Tyler, Texas on Tuesday, August 15, 2017. She was the wife of Richard Wagner Flynn, formerly of Malvern, PA, who survives her.

Emma was born in Charleston, WV, the daughter of Elizabeth Anne Carroll and Arthur Kennedy O’Keefe, both deceased. She was raised in Middlebury, CT, Waterbury, CT and Beaumont, TX. A graduate of Georgetown Visitation Junior College in Washington, D.C. and Rosemont College in Rosemont, PA with a B.A. in Chemistry, Emma started a very successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, initially with DuPont, and then with Wyeth. After a 32-year career with Wyeth, serving as a pioneer and role model for women in the pharmaceutical industry, Emma began a consulting career, traveling around the world providing FDA compliance training for many pharmaceutical manufacturers. Emma and Richard moved from Malvern, PA to Tyler, TX in 2010.

Emma loved gardens, historic houses, who-done-it mysteries, and cooking. She treasured her friends and family, and enjoyed family reunions, dinners, gatherings, and she excelled at genealogical research. She is survived by her husband and two children: Christine E. Flynn of Houston, TX and David C. Flynn (wife Baylee) of Tyler, TX; her seven siblings Arthur K. O’Keefe, Jr. of Austin, Texas, Michael C. O’Keefe of Austin, Texas, C. Richard O’Keefe of Henderson, Texas, James E. O’Keefe of Murchison, Texas, Carroll O’Keefe of Ben Wheeler, Texas, Margaret O’Keefe Cartwright of China, Texas, and Christine O’Keefe Poulton of Hartsburg, Missouri; and twelve nieces and nephews and their children.

To celebrate Emma’s life, a Rosary and visitation will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, TX 75703. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 21, 2017 at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler with Rev. Joshua Neu officiating, internment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Emma’s name to one of the following:

George Washington’s Mount Vernon http://www. mountvernon.org/ donate/

The Untermyer Gardens Conservancy http://www. untermyergardens.org/ donations. html

Historic Tyler http://historictyler.org/