May 6, 1943 – October 27, 2022
Jerelene (Jeri) Flowers, 79, died on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Kokomo, Ind., after a brief illness. She was born on May 6, 1943, on a farm near Aroma, Ind., the fifth of six children born to the late Jerry Gilbert and Mamie Catherine (Walker) Flowers.
Jeri (or Jerd, as her family affectionately called her) graduated from Jackson Central High School in 1961. She was a loving sister, aunt, partner, and friend. Her greatest passion in life was her family – including a large number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews whose awards ceremonies, basketball games, plays, musicals, and weddings she showed up for throughout her life. She grew up in Cicero and later relocated to Kokomo to work for GM Delco Electronics where she retired in 1997 after 30 years of service.
Jeri was an avid bowler and was actively engaged in Kokomo’s City of Firsts USBC Hall of Fame bowling league, where she was a two-time past President. She was a member of the local UAW 292 in Kokomo and enjoyed golfing, IU Basketball, cats, the music of Dolly Parton, traveling, and most of all – shopping. She loved to read and spend much of her time researching her family roots in Indiana and Tennessee.
Survivors include brothers, James C. Flowers of Anderson and Charles (Loralynn) Flowers of Cicero; and a village of extended family and friends, including Penny (Greg) Paetow of Palos Heights, Ill.; Dick Smith of Kokomo; and Marion Cable of Kokomo.
Additional surviving family includes 14 nieces and nephews: Caryn Flowers, Timothy (Elizabeth) Flowers, Beverly (Tom) Cantrell, Cheryl (Terry) Ballard-Granger, Rudy (Candi) Ballard, Glen Flowers, Teddi (Rodger) Rulon, Jerry G. (Carol) Flowers, Kimberly (Brent) Young, Jerry L. (Maureen) Liston, Debbie (Kevin) Strausbaugh, Kathi Flowers-Yeryar, Denny (Nikki) Flowers, and Darla (Gary) Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her beloved life partner, Bev Dieterly; mother and father; sisters, Kathleen Ballard of Daleville and Pauline Liston of Atlanta; brother, Glen Flowers of Anderson; nephew, Carl Wayne Flowers; and nieces, Rachelle Liston and Lindsay M. Flowers of Cicero.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022, at Hartley Funeral Home Cicero Chapel, 209 W. Jackson St., Cicero, with Pastor Rex Dunning officiating. Friends and family may gather before the memorial service from noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Upon completion of her memorial service, Jeri will be laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery in Tipton, next to her parents and brother.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mental Health Association, 406 E. Sycamore St., Kokomo, IN 46901. You may send condolences at hartleyfuneralhomes.com.
A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date (most likely upon placement of the headstone – TBD).