James Noah Flowers Jr, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, beloved brother, and special friend to many died on Saturday afternoon, June 7 with wife Patsy and daughter Lisa by his side. He was 86 years old.
Jim was born January 18, 1939 in Philadelphia, PA to James Noah Flowers and his wife Anna (Jucas) Flowers. For the first 10 years of his life he and his mother and 2 later siblings lived with his maternal grandparents in Philadelphia while his Navy dad was on a variety of ships in service to his country. When his dad retired he moved the family to Everton, Missouri where he had grown up.
Jim graduated from Everton High School and shortly thereafter joined the Navy. While stationed in Millington, Tennessee he met Patsy Lafferty in Memphis where she was attending college. They married October 10, 1959 in her hometown of Clifton, Tennessee. During their many years of marriage they lived in Washington, DC; Memphis, TN; Chamblee and Alpharetta, GA; Centerville, OH; Alton, IL and finally Godfrey, IL.
While in Georgia, Jim graduated from Georgia State with a bachelor's degree. Jim's career was largely in the paper industry serving as a credit manager. He retired in 2004 and since has enjoyed many travel adventures and times spent on the golf courses with friends. He was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church and enjoyed serving as a Life Group leader to a special group of men there. He also learned and grew in his faith as a result of many years of participating in Bible Study Fellowship.
Jim is survived by his loving family including his wife of 65 years, Patsy Lafferty Flowers, his daughter Lisa Flowers Ross (Frank), granddaughters Sidney Lee (Jim), Anna Ross-Browning (Brian), grandson Nathan Bell, great-grandchildren Emmett and Eleanor Lee. Also surviving are siblings Frank Flowers, Janie Flowers Keene (Denny), Teresa Flowers Mead, and Johnny Flowers (Teresa) as well as several nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and by his daughter Jill J. Flowers (husband Larry Clever).
Visitation will be on Saturday, June 21 from 10 to 11:30 am at Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, Illinois with funeral service to immediately follow.
In place of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Calvary Christian School playground fund.
Gent Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Additional information and online guestbook may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com.
