Francis “Frank” Flanagan came into the world on April 4th, 1939 to Cecilia and Walter Flanagan at the Brocktown Hospital near the town of Randolph, Massachusetts and left it, sooner than any of us were ready for, on July 2, 2025. The youngest of three boys, and much younger than his brothers, Frank’s childhood would be filled with exploring the neighborhood, stamp collecting, books, and the companionship of the family dog. After high school, Frank went on to Brown University to study political science and enjoy himself before graduating at the very green age of 21.
Frank then made a mature decision to enter the naval officer candidate school in Rhode Island so that he could, as he put it, develop some discipline. He achieved that goal as a Lieutenant junior grade stationed on the USS Blandy at the height of the Cold War off the island of Cuba where he served as the Combat Information Center Officer on a ship that was tracking a Soviet submarine and dropping small charges in an attempt it to bring it to the surface.
He entered active duty on Dec 16, 1960 at Milton. (Norfolk) . Massachusetts. He was commissioned on 16 Dec 1960 as LTJG (0-2). He served aboard the U.S.S Blandy (DD-943. OPS AFLOAT 9274. Service School FTC, Dam Neck, VA. 4/3/61- 4/29/61 CIC Officer Case #314. He was honorably discharged Dec 23, 1963.
Frank would serve actively and in the reserves until 1966 during which time he received a Master of Business Administration degree from Boston University. In the early fall of 1965, he met the love of his life, Merrily Milano, an undergraduate at the Boston University School of Education and by Thanksgiving, they were engaged to be married. Frank began his post-graduate career at ARCO in Boston where he and Merrily soon had baby Daly, and shortly after, Francis. True to form, he was a company man and would stay with ARCO for 30 years during which time Frank and Merrily moved six times: from Massachusetts to Connecticut to New York to California to Massachusetts and then finally, back to California. It was during their first stay in Los Angeles that their youngest, Susannah, was born and a few years later they would settle in Woodland HIlls, CA with an unforgettable view of the San Fernando Valley for the remainder of their child raising years.
In addition to roles in marketing, information systems, internal auditing, employee relations, and sales during his 30-year tenure at ARCO, Frank was a tremendous support to Merrily with her vintage jewelry business, Collector’s Eye. Most Saturdays would find him opening the store and greeting customers with a twinkle in his blue eyes. Additionally, he took great pride in his 11 years of service on the board of directors of the Foundation on Employment & Disability, Inc.
In 1995, Frank and Merrily visited her younger brother Mark and his wife Jessie at their ranch house in the golden hills of Tehachapi, which felt to them like a town out of a western movie set. This was the place they had been dreaming about and so in 1996, after retirement, Frank and Merrily purchased a beautiful house in the hills of Bear Valley Springs overlooking two valleys and along with a cast of dogs, all of them unforgettable, they would stay until Merrily’s death in 2023. In addition to single handedly maintaining the rustic beauty of their Arrow Court home and continuing to support Merrily’s work with the Collector’s Eye of Tehachapi, Frank was involved with the Environmental Control Committee of Bear Valley Springs and the Urrea House in Tehachapi. Ultimately Parkinson’s disease would make it impossible for him to stay as active as he would have liked, and the day came when he had to give up his weekly weed whacking. Thus, it was a tremendous gift that during the last two years of Frank’s life, he was able to relax thanks to the love and deep friendship of Mark and Jessie Milano who made a home for him on their magnificent cattle ranch, home to five horses, one mule, and seven dogs, including his own beloved “Bitsy”. He loved nothing more than waking up each day to a view of the mountains on all four sides.
He loved his children, grandchildren, his dogs, westerns, counting calves, the news, college football, and chocolate chip cookies. Few could have lived independently at that stage of Parkinson’s disease but he was determined to enjoy each day, and that he did.
Known then and for the rest of the days of his life for his “ability of understatement and quiet sarcasm,” Frank had a dry wit and charm that endeared him to everyone who knew him.
Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Merrily Flanagan; his parents, Cecilia and Walter Flanagan; his brother Walter J. Flanagan; and his granddaughter, Holly Flanagan.
Frank leaves his three children: Daly (Nils Walter) of Garrison, NY, Francis of Las Vegas, NV, and Susannah Auby (Jase) of Austin, TX; brothers Paul Flanagan (Arlene) of Costa Mesa, CA, and Mark Milano (Jessie) of Stallion Springs, CA; grandchildren: Sean Flanagan of Pahrump, NV, Walter Auby of Washington, DC, Calvin Auby of Williamsburg, VA, Olive “Simon” Auby of College Park, MD, and Juliet Auby of Austin, TX; and 5 nieces and 6 nephews.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this military veteran. For those interested, and all PGR members are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to the cemetery, approximately 18 miles. Please see the timetable if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
TIMETABLE FOR MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 20250845: Stage at Wood Family Funeral Service, 321 West F St, Tehachapi, CA.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xkr5c8GxgyJBuk9a60850: Mission briefing.
0900: KSU to Bakersfield National Cemetery, 30338 E Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin, CA.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/L2SJMY3nwuevdY1y90930: ETA to Bakersfield National Cemetery.
1000: Flag line and military honors.
Jim “Pops” Davis
Tehachapi Area PGR Ride Captain
jdavisabajo514@yahoo.com
(661) 221-3120US Army 1964-1970; Vietnam 1966-1970
Army Ranger Mos 63B20& 63C20
You do not have to be a veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. All PGR members are welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the Ride Captain (RC). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent, and with honor and respect for our heroes. No talking, smoking, or cell phone use during the flag line or service. Please keep radios off and engine noise to a minimum. Observe the 15 MPH speed limit. Remember, cemeteries are hallowed ground. Show respect to all who are there, not just the ones we are honoring.
