Joan McCall Flynn passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 21, 2024, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family.

Joan was born in Pensacola on October 22, 1937, to Bouie McCall and Mamie Staples McCall. Her childhood was spent in Pensacola where she attended local schools and graduated from Pensacola High School in 1955. During high school, Joan belonged to many clubs and was a PHS varsity cheerleader. It was there that she met her future husband, star quarterback Leo M. Flynn, on a blind date to a football banquet where they discovered their mutual love of dancing. They married in 1956 and moved to Auburn, AL where Joan worked in banking while Leo studied chemistry and played football for Auburn University. While home for Christmas, they welcomed their first child, Deborah. Upon Leo's graduation, the family moved to Gainesville, FL where Leo attended medical school at the University of Florida while Joan worked in the office of the university President. Their daughter Michelle was born in Gainesville in 1964. The family returned to Pensacola in 1970 where their daughter Stephanie was born in 1971, a day after Joan played eighteen holes of golf at Pensacola Country Club. Following divorce in 1980, Joan remained single, devoted to raising her girls and grandchildren for the rest of her life.

In Pensacola, Joan worked in various financial fields, as a licensed insurance agent with First National Life Insurance Company, and a real estate agent with Donovan Realty. For eleven years, she worked in her son-in-law Robert Heath's law firm, handling the books and greeting clients. For over twenty years until her death, Joan worked in her daughter, Stephanie's dental office, Emerald Coast Smiles By Design, handling finances and ensuring that the office functioned efficiently.

Joan's devotion to her family was legendary. She coordinated all family celebrations and holiday events. She carved out special time with each grandchild to make lasting memories with them and was affectionately known as "Grandma Joan" by many of their friends. In later years, she enjoyed traveling to Disney World and cruises to the Mediterranean and Europe. She was an adoring mother and grandmother, forever stylish, and loved dressing up, particularly for formal events such as the Fiesta Queen's Coffee and the DeLuna Ball with her family and lifelong friends. She never slowed down and lived life to the fullest. Joan was the epitome of the Grand Dame Southern Family Matriarch.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Bouie and Mamie McCall; her former husband, Dr. Leo Flynn, and her cousin, Dr. Stephen Trawick.

She is survived by her daughters, Deborah Heath (Robert) of Pensacola, Michelle Arnold (Charles) of Tampa, FL and Stephanie Tilley, DMD of Pensacola; her six grandchildren, Charles Arnold, Jr. (Kseniya) of St. Petersburg, FL, Mallory Heath (Brian Claggett) of Cambridge, MA, Brendan Heath of Pensacola, William Arnold of Tampa, Hayley Heath of Pensacola, and Mackinnley Tilley of Pensacola; her great-grandchild, Heath Claggett of Cambridge, MA; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Joan's family is grateful to all of her health care providers, especially Dr. Mark Grise and Dr. Peter Bercz and the staff at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Intensive Care Unit for providing such care and compassion to her in her final days. Special thanks are also extended to Dr. Laura Worthylake and Natalya Yepeshin whose care and compassion are so deeply appreciated.

A celebration of Joan's incredible life will be held 10:00am Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Christ Episcopal Church in Pensacola with a reception following at the Pensacola Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pensacola Catholic High School building fund, 3043 W. Scott St., Pensacola, FL 32505 or a charity of your choice.