Mary Jane was born in Tipton County, Indiana July 28, 1919, to the late Burl and Odna (cox) Lilly. She married DeVon W. Flaningam, an attorney, in 1963 and he died in 2002.
Following graduation from Tipton High School in 1937, she received her Bachelor and Master's degrees from Ball State University. She also attended Franklin College and Butler University.
A secondary school teacher, she taught at Windfall, Sharpsville in Tipton County, and Rossville High School, retiring in 1981. Prior to her teaching career she was deputy clerk of Tipton Circuit Court with Louis W Curtis and Ralph Watson former Clerks.
Mrs. Flaningam enjoyed genealogy, watching sports, especially basketball and football, reading, working puzzles and traveling.
She was a member of Delta Pi Epsilon (graduate honorary, Theta Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, and Alpha Ro chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (teaching honoraries); Life member of Society of Indiana Pioneers, Associate chapter of Kappa Kappa Kappa, Crawfordsville; Dorothy Q Chapter of NSDAR, Tipton County Historical Society, Montgomery County Retired Teachers, Gamma Mu Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, Ball State University; Elson Memorial Foundation Board (treasurer). She was a life member of Indiana State Archives. She was also a member of West Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tipton.
Survivors are cousins, friends, and her husband's daughter Martha.

Funeral services will be held 1:00PM Tuesday at Hunt & Son Funeral Home with visitation from 11-1. Interment will follow the service in Fairview Cemetery, Tipton, IN.
Memorial contributions may be made to Darlington Public Library, PO Box 248, Darlington, IN 47940