CHESAPEAKE- Jeffrey Charles Flowers, 69, died on October 30, 2017 from injuries sustained in a car accident in Allentown, PA. He loved his family, his freedom, and shoofly pie.

He claimed to remember his prenatal coming into this world in a car accident in State College. He was a man who enjoyed life giving him the opportunity of a good story.

Jeffrey was born in Harrisburg, PA in 1948. He spent his early years in the coal country of Dante & Wise in the mountains of Virginia, where he encountered a snake while riding his tricycle (but no one believed him to this day). The family moved to Long Island in New York. He went to High School in Port Washington, NY where he excelled at singing and trumpet. For his life goal description in his yearbook, he submitted that he wanted to be a world famous hermit. Of course this was edited (without his consent) to say he wanted to become a minister (of all things!)

He graduated from Marietta College, Marietta, OH in 1970 with a degree in Economics. At Marietta, he competed on the lightweight crew team and he was in the best shape of his life. He traveled to Europe and the Near East one summer, from which he gleaned many stories (with debatable appropriateness). He entered the working world with Proctor and Gamble in the New York City area.

Upon the recommendation of his Uncle (Commander Edward "Mac" McElheny, USNRet), Jeff volunteered for service with the US Navy in 1970 (there's another story about that). When asked for duty assignment preferences, he replied (with a cynical nod to McHale's Navy) that he wished to be on a small boat on a tropical island in the South Pacific. The Navy graciously complied and sent him to Guam, assigned to the minesweeper USS Inflict, MSO-456. The mine counter-warfare involved combat action, most notably operating in the vicinity of Haiphong Harbor.

Jeff acquired his MBA from ODU in 1981. He entered the banking industry, working at various financial institutions throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He retired from First Union National Bank, but returned to work to assist Hampton Roads Bankshares. He had since washed his hands of banking.

Jeff was an ardent Mason with membership in the Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22, LMIP; Churchland Lodge #276, A.F.A.M.; Mt. Horeb #11 Royal Arch Chapter; Portsmouth Commandery #5, Knights Templar, LMIP; Portsmouth Scottish Rite Bodies, LMIP. He was a Past Master of his Blue Lodge; Past High Priest of his Royal Arch chapter; Past Venerable Master, Lodge of Perfection; Past Wise Master, Chapter Rose Croix; Past Commander, Council of Kadosh; Past Master of Kadosh, Consistory.

He enjoyed singing in various choirs, most recently at New Creation Aldersgate Campus, Chesapeake, VA. He was a member of the Church of the Ascension in Norfolk, VA. He enjoyed pig roast preparation and was proud of his hush puppy recipe. His cooking of PA Dutch food like pickled pig feet, souse, and scrapple will not be missed. However his rendition of The Grinch song will be missed.

Jeff was predeceased by his parents Alfred and Mary Flowers and siblings Thomas Flowers and Janet Rhine. Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Chieko Flowers, son Kenneth Flowers (wife Laurelyn), daughter Lorna Flowers (husband Kurt Goll) of PA, granddaughters Daphne and Daisy Goll of PA, stepdaughter Marla Jeffers of FL, stepmother Patricia Flowers of PA, nephew Ben Rhine of NC, former spouse Mikki Baile of MD, and many cousins of many states.

A memorial service with Masonic Rites and Naval Honors will be held at 1:00p.m., Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at Meadowbrook Mausoleum Chapel, Suffolk. Memorial donations may be made to Nat'l MS Society. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.