01/14/2023
It is with such sadness to announce that our classmate (Mary) has passed on. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve 🙏🙏🙏
On Sunday, January 1, 2023, Mary Helen (Hand)Flinn passed away after battling a lengthy illness. She was 58 years old. Born to Jim and Helen Hand of McPherson, Kansas. Mary graduated from McPherson High School and attended Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. Mary was known for her quick wit, beauty, and fierce determination. It was her wit and determination that won Mary many friends in the numerous cities in which she lived. Mary had many adventures and was an active volunteer. Mary learned to scuba dive when she was just 16 years old and earned multiple advanced scuba diving certifications. Mary had the pleasure of diving in some of the most exotic locations in the world. She ventured into the waters off of Mexico, Hawaii, Belize, the Florida Keys, and the wreck of the Rhones off of the British Virgin Islands. Mary came from a family of servant leaders. Not to be left behind Mary volunteered with the Miami County Sheriff's Department Underwater Recovery Team. There she served in locating missing persons and evidence in large bodies of water. Mary also served as an election polling official and hospice volunteer. Mary was an avid reader. She especially enjoyed mysteries. She loved her pets and adopted multiple shelter pets throughout her lifetime. Mary loved to travel. Some of her favorite destinations were the Caribbean and Europe. She was a sailor and participated in numerous yacht races as part of an all female crew with her brother Mike as Captain. Her evenings were often spent at the opera with friends or watching the Kansas City Chiefs play football. Professionally Mary excelled in real estate sales working with Reece and Nichols Realty in Louisburg, Kansas.
Mary loved her family and was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Helen Hand; and her beloved brother, Mike Hand.
She is survived by her brothers, Jim Hand and his wife Shari, and Matt Hand and his wife Stacy; four nieces and nephews, Cindy and Jeff Hand (daughter and son of Jim and Shari Hand), Katie and Ryan Hand (daughter and son of Matt and Stacy Hand).
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial in Mary's name to a local hospice or animal shelter.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
