
Eleanor "Ellie" Marie Flinn
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Eleanor Marie Flinn, lovingly known as Ellie, passed away peacefully at home on January 10, 2025, surrounded by her devoted family. She was 87 years old. A vibrant and resilient woman, Ellie was a dedicated wife, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose legacy is one of unconditional love, adventure, and cherished memories.
Ellie was born on July 15, 1937, in Los Angeles, California. During her childhood, her family relocated to Aurora, Colorado, where she graduated from high school. After completing her education, Ellie returned to California, where fate brought her together with R.F. "Whiz" Flinn. Introduced through mutual friends, the two quickly formed an enduring bond, leading to a partnership that lasted nearly 50 years. When Whiz proposed, Ellie famously responded, "I'll have to think about it." After giving it some thought, they were married on September 5, 1962. Together, they blended their lives, raising three children from Whiz's previous marriage and welcoming three more of their own.
Ellie's life of adventure began early in her marriage when she moved with Whiz and their children to Pakistan for three years due to his work. Adjusting to a new culture while navigating her roles as a wife and mother, Ellie embraced these challenges with determination. She gave birth to their first child in Pakistan, and before returning to the United States, the family embarked on an unforgettable European tour, visiting Turkey, Greece, Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland. Armed with a popular guidebook at the time, Europe on $5 a Day, they savored local cuisines, often opting for picnic meals to stretch their budget.
Back in the U.S., Ellie and Whiz's life was marked by frequent relocations, living in Colorado, California, Oklahoma, Idaho, Arizona, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania before finally settling in Boise, Idaho, in 1976. Boise became their forever home, a place where Ellie cultivated deep roots and lifelong friendships. From their base of Boise, they managed to travel a bit more and had great memories of an Alaskan cruise where they were joined by Ellie's sister, Ida and her husband John. Throughout all their travels, Ellie's favorite was Scotland where she was able to meet her Scottish relatives for the first time and visit the birthplace of her Scottish father.
Ellie's working years included a role at Morrison Knudsen and a fulfilling career at Western States Equipment, where she retired in 2002. She and Whiz were passionate fans of Boise State University sports, holding football season tickets since 1980. Their enthusiasm extended to basketball, where they cheered equally for the men's and women's teams. One of her fondest memories was attending every home and away football game one season, a whirlwind adventure that Ellie enthusiastically described as "a blast!". However, the thrill of her lifetime happened when she and Whiz attended the 2007 Fiesta Bowl where Boise State upset Oklahoma University (apologies to the Oklahoma side of the family).
In retirement, Ellie cherished family time, especially with her grandchildren. Whether it was attending their baseball and softball games, organizing outings to the zoo or Art in the Park, going to Costco for samples, or sneaking them to Taco Bell after school, Grandma Ellie ensured every moment was filled with laughter and love.
Ellie was deeply committed to community service. As a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile for over 50 years, she held leadership roles and actively volunteered for causes close to her heart, including raising funds for the Shriners Children's Hospital. Whiz was a Shriner and after his passing, Ellie continued to volunteer for Shrine events which in recent years included working at Treefort Music Festival.
Her faith was an anchor throughout her life. A member of Hillview United Methodist Church for more than four decades, Ellie found joy and purpose in serving through various church activities.
Ellie's family was her greatest pride and joy. She was the beloved matriarch to six children, 14 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren, treasuring every moment spent with them. Her constant companion in later years was her loyal dog, Bobby, who rarely left her side.
Ellie was preceded in death by her husband, Whiz; her parents, Alexander and Jesse Graham; her daughter, Janna Flinn; and her grandson, David Flinn. She is survived by her children: Fran Patton, Dale Flinn (Sharon), Alicia (Lee) Flinn (Justin), Teresa (TC) Fabela (Guillermo), and Alex Flinn, her sister Ida Cook (John), neices, nephews, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family invites all who knew Ellie to celebrate her life on Saturday, January 25, at 11:00 AM at Hillview United Methodist Church in Boise. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Shriners Children's Hospital or the Alzheimer's Association Greater Idaho.
Ellie's warmth, humor, tenacity, and unwavering devotion will be dearly missed. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know and love her.
