Obituary of Wyannie Cox Flowers

Funeral services for Wyannie Cox Flowers, age 105 of Sammamish, Washinton and formerly of Olla, Louisiana will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, September 8, 2018 from the sanctuary of the Olla United Methodist Church, Olla, Louisiana with burial following at Olla Cemetery under the direction of Riser Funeral Home.

Wyannie Cox Flowers was born May 20, 1913 and passed from our lives to Heaven on August 17th, 2018 at her home in Sammamish, Washington.

Wyannie grew up outside of the small town of Olla, Louisiana on the family farm where she had fond memories of her rural childhood. She walked to school several miles each day, and took her studies very seriously. Despite having to manage her share of the family chores and other demands of farm life at the time, she was a disciplined student throughout. 

As the first person in her family to go to college, Wyannie graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1935, and later earned her Masters Degree in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. 

She taught school in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) while on an accompanied Army posting to Trieste, Italy with her late husband Lt. Col. Warren Doyle Flowers (USA). 

She had known Doyle all of her life and he was best friends with her brother Arch. They started dating after they were both back in Olla after college and she was coaching basketball and wanted someone to ride along with her when she had to drive the dark country roads at night dropping off girls from games or practice. They married soon after in July of 1940.

She started as a home economics teacher and the girls’ basketball coach, taking her team to the Louisiana State championships of which she was always immensely proud. Later she moved to elementary education and was one of the first Head Start teachers. She was a skilled seamstress, an excellent cook, and loved gardening. As a product of her upbringing during the Great Depression, she was always very self-sufficient and frugal. Her traits of fiscal responsibility and not being wasteful were ones that she always sought to pass down to the next generations.

She came to be known as “Mimi” later in life because her name was difficult to spell and pronounce, and she enjoyed this new nickname. Her true name, Wyannie, was given to her by a local teacher in Olla, LA which was a custom at the time. 

Wyannie always loved beautiful things, dressed fashionably and set a beautiful table with pieces she collected at different places over a lifetime. With a true heart for hospitality, she loved to entertain her family and friends. Everyone who enjoyed her cooking remembers her talent in the kitchen. 

Her stamina was impressive allowing her to remain quite active until 102 when she fell and broke her foot, causing her to be immobile during her last 3 years. Despite her previously active lifestyle, she gracefully endured the limitations brought about by her injury. 

Throughout her life, and even in her later years, Wyannie was very social and loved to talk with friends and family. When teased one time about it by her nephew, she responded, “I guess I have always had too much to say and not enough time to say it in!”

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Flowers Meyers (Brad, deceased) of Sammamish, Washington; her grandchildren Clint Meyers, Matt Meyers (Nicolle), and Rebecca Murray (John) and her Great Grandchildren Jack Meyers, Lillian Meyers and Alena Murray all of Washington State; her nephews George “Butch" Pinto, Johnny Pinto, and Bobby McCartney, and her niece Connie Marie Augustine. 

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Warren Doyle Flowers, her parents John Alexander Cox and Rosa Lillie Hopkins Cox, her brother Walter (Arch) Cox (Vera) and her sister Marie Pinto (Al).

She was an integral part of our family, and an active member of Faith United Methodist Church in Issaquah, Washington until at 102 she was no longer able to attend. Thanks to those who faithfully visited her at home every month after that, especially Georgia Worden along with Jack and Kathleen Gewin. 

The family also acknowledges her loving caregivers who ensured her comfort and happiness over the last 3 years, allowing her to stay in her home. Thanks especially to Stephanie, Caroline, Margaret, Mary, Anne, Janet and Sybil. Our hearts are very grateful to all those who loved and cared for her. 

She will missed by all of us but her memory lives on.