Paula Grace  Farnham (Flanagan)

Paula was born December 10, 1942 at Research Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, to Paul Allen Flanagan and Frances Louise Flanagan. Paul was in the US Army as a Sergeant in the Quartermaster section, and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Frances stayed in Independence, living with family during the war. After the war, Paul worked selling insurance in Independence, Wichita, Kansas, and then back in Englewood in Independence.

Paula graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1960, went to Baker University two years majoring in history, and then went to St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing for three years, graduating in 1965. She worked at St. Luke’s Hospital, then Research Hospital. She married James P. Foltz December 1965. She became the first office nurse for Milo M. Farnham, M.D., in 1966 until 1972, devising procedures of operation that persisted through his 30 years of private practice. She attended the Episcopal Church while living in Raytown, making lifelong friends with four other young ladies with children. She directed the adult choir at church. She organized a bowling team with her four friends, having jackets with “Farnham’s Girls” on the backs. She left employment to have daughter Jill Frances on September 14, 1968 and came back to work about a year later when an opening occurred in the Farnham office. She left again to have daughter Joy Elizabeth on April 15, 1971, staying home to be a full-time mother. She had to return to work, though, to help support the family from 1974 to 1976. As no opening was available with Dr. Farnham, she worked as an ICU nurse at the Medical Center of Independence Hospital.

After her husband graduated from Chiropractic College, they moved to Lexington, Missouri in 1976, where he set up practice. Paula worked as a nurse at the Wentworth Military Academy, there. Her husband left her in 1979 and she returned to Independence in 1980. She worked then with the Visiting Nurse Association in Kansas City for six yeas, then Travelers Insurance Company for two years as a Medical Case Manager. Travelers moved her in 1988 to Charlotte, North Carolina, to be the manager of their Case Managers there. She transferred to Zurich Insurance Company in 1996 to be their Manager over 30 nurses. In 1998 she was promoted to manage all the Catastrophic Case Manager Nurses for the whole country for Zurich. During these years she worked toward and obtained her Bachelor of Nursing degree, and Master of Public Administration (UMKC) as well.


Paula’s parents were patients of Dr. Farnham, and he was kept aware of her locations, work, and children throughout the years. When his second wife left him in 2002, he called Paula (in Charlotte) and they telephoned, eventually met again, and then married on November 29, 2003. She moved back to Independence, still managing for Zurich in an office in their home. They both retired at the end of 2012, although Paula did private case managing until May 2013, and Milo has continued doing flight physicals for the FAA in an office set up in a basement apartment. Paula helped him as his chaperone when he did a flight physical on a female, and also performed all the EKG’s on those with First Class Physicals when needed.

Breast Cancer was found late in 2012, and after chemotherapies and surgeries, she passed away at home on July 28, 2017, from side effects from the treatments.

Paula’s ready engaging wide smile and infectious laughter is remembered by all who knew her, and she has been said to be the glue that has held the family together. At any get-together, her welcoming attitude and infectious smile put everyone, new or old, completely at ease. She has been an avid reader all her life (as is Milo), and she belonged to several book clubs, and ordered books there and on line for them both to read. She was an expert historian on old (and recent) England, coming up with little facts to amaze everyone. She loved animals, having up to six cats at home at one time. She also had a rescue greyhound, and brought it and five cats back to Dr. Farnham who had a Sheltie. She gave regularly to various pet organizations. She loved to knit and crochet and crocheted baby blankets for all her pregnant daughters, granddaughters, and various friends and acquaintances. She loved her daughters dearly and their children and her great grandchildren, and was highly interested in all their activities, attending the little ones’ soccer games and school and church programs.

She is survived by her “soul mate”, Milo M. Farnham, M.D., brother Reverend George Flanagan (Lyndia), daughter Jill Schachner (Stephan) and grandchildren Jenna, Sarrah, and Alec; daughter Joy Neill with grandchildren Allen Dillon (Malissa), great-grandchildren Jason, Lexie, Lamont; granddaughter Meagan Stanifer (Joe) and great-grandchildren Chase, Noah; and grandchildren Jeremy, Grace, and Emily.

Milo’s children, who also love her dearly include Lynda Farnham (Robert Farnham, deceased) and grandchildren Adam Farnham (Sami) with great-grandchildren Brynn, Wesley, Cale; granddaughter Corinne Fonseca (Brian) with great-grandchildren Kiera, Briana, Nash, Kandal; and granddaughter Erin Everett (Jacob) with great-granddaughter Felicity; son Mark Farnham, M.D., with grandchildren Matthew, Mark, and Markaila; daughter Rachel Horn (Vim) with grandchildren Ammon Horn (Charlotte) and great-grandchildren Wesley, Aranea, and Gwendolyn; grandson Nathan; granddaughter Rebecca Reppert (Ben); and granddaughter Audrey Horn; daughter Jill Etter (Mark) and grandchildren Jacob, Savannah, Caleb and Rosemary.

Paula and Milo had fully intended to grow old together, supporting each other in any infirmities, attending the Kansas City Symphony, the New Theatre Restaurant plays, the many church, school, and grandchildren activities, and having the family all over for the Fourth of July cookouts, Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities and dinners, and sitting holding hands just watching a TV rerun of a good program. They each had a favorite chair where they read their books. Milo is so grateful that he was able to care for Paula during her prolonged and difficult bout with her illnesses, and that she did not have to go through them without a companion.