F. Avon Flaniken

Farmington
Dr. F. Avon Flaniken
March 8, 1928 - Dec. 18, 2015
Dr. F. Avon Flaniken passed away from cancer, surrounded by loved ones, on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, at his home in Farmington. Avon always said "they are gonna have to come and get me" and on that day "they" did.
He was born on a blustery morning in Vernon, Texas, to an oil field wildcatter, Fontain Avon Flaniken and artist, Naomi (Attaway) Flaniken. As a child growing up in the Texas panhandle, he had many goals and dreams all of which he achieved.
In his teens, while visiting relatives in Farmington, he fell in love with the area and vowed to return.
He attended high school in Amarillo, Texas, where he excelled in both football and track. The locals nicknamed him "Flash Flaniken." The Coach at University of Texas, Don Cherry, recognized his talent and tried to recruit him to play football, but Avon had different goals. He proudly served the United States when he joined the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division in Ft. Benning, Ga. He was honorably discharged and went on to graduate from the UT medical school in Galveston, Texas. He continued his love of football after graduation with a lifelong following of the Longhorns. "Hook 'em horns" was a common phrase in the household.
In 1956, he kept his vow and retuned to Famington to set up practice at 333 E. Main St. For 37 years, he was a much loved and admired general practitioner for the Farmington area. His time as a physician was a unique experience as there were few specialists and he was allowed to enjoy multifaceted medical care for most of his career. All of his patients and coworkers knew when he was in the hospital as his cigar smoke would precede him. He practiced medicine with grace and wisdom.
He was an avid hunter and loved his horses, dogs and the mountains almost as much as he loved his family. If circumstances had been different, he would have been a mountain man. He always said "he was born 100 years too late."
Another passion he was known for was flying. All of his family knew the call name for his Bonanza and were given a unique view of the surrounding world, especially on those trips to Austin, Texas, to cheer for the Longhorns.
He is survived by his wife, Norma Jean of Farmington; children: son, Mike of Flora Vista; daughter, Ann Cohl (Chris) of Owings, Md.; daughter, Jane of Springfield, Mass.; daughter, Fontaine Waite (Ken) of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada; stepson, Mark Brown of Artesia; stepdaughter, Donna Hewett (Paul) of Farmington; and stepson, Peter Brown of Farmington; sister, Madge Steele of Tulia, Texas; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Dr. Catherine Curry and the Basin Home Health and Hospice for the special care given to our loved one during this very difficult time.
Memorial services are 1 p.m. March 6, 2016, at Farmington Elks Lodge, No. 1747, 801 Municipal Drive.
Dr. Flaniken's care is entrusted to Alternative Choice Burial and Cremation, 804 N. Dustin Ave. in Farmington, 505-325-9611. Those who wish to express their condolences may do so at serenityandcompany.com.