Jacob Joye Flower, 90, passed away peacefully in his Houston, Mo., home on March 3, 2016.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Beulah (Adey) Flower; his parents Henry J. Flower and Minnie (Lindskog) Flower; three brothers, Howard, Lyle and Stanley Flower; two sisters, Wilma Delong and Isabel Meyers; and his daughter, Debra (Flower) Collins.
He is survived by his daughter, Sheila Taylor and her husband, Kerry, of Springfield, Mo.; one son-in-law, Mike Collins of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; one granddaughter, Jamie (Bandy) Bowlin and husband, Rocky, of Houston, Mo.; two grandsons, Grant Collins and wife, Shonna, and Blake Collins all of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; four great-grandchildren, Ryan Bowlin and wife, Bailey, and Alyssa Bowlin of Houston, Mo., and Dakota and Gunner Collins of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; as well as one great-great granddaughter, Blair Bowlin of Houston, Mo.
Joye was born in Hebron, Neb., on Aug. 20, 1925. At the age of 12, he and his family moved to Houston, Mo. He attended Brown Hill School before graduating from Houston High School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. Following his service, he returned to the Houston are,a where he met and married the love of his life Beulah on June 15, 1947. He worked his way up through the automotive service industry, eventually owning OK Tire and Flower Auto Parts in Houston, Mo. While in the auto parts business he made many friends and earned many trips for exceptional customer service and sales.
Joye and his wife and daughters enjoyed traveling. He visited all of the lower 48 states and Hawaii as well as Mexico, Canada, Spain, Africa and Caribbean cruises to many islands. In retirement, Joye and Beulah spent many winters in the Everglades and Satellite Beach, Fla.
He was an avid fisherman, spending many days on local lakes, rivers and streams with family and friends before purchasing a cabin on Bull Shoals Lake that was enjoyed with his family.
Growing up, his daughter’s fondest memories are of being entertained along with cousins and friends at their home as well as circuses, stock and go-cart races and lake trips. While at home he was a Master Gardner, growing vegetables and flowers that were admired by all passing his home on Hwy B.
His granddaughter fondly recalls many travels with nana and papaw as well including trips to Florida fishing and going to Disney World. He passed his love for building, repairing, and tinkering on to his grandsons and great-grandson while working around his home on cars, tractors and go-carts. Later in life he received great joy watching his great-grandchildren and great great-granddaughter play in his home.
On Oct. 13, 2013, before passing in April 2014, his wife Beulah told him “Don’t cry for me, I’ll see you later down the road.” He has now joined her on that journey down the eternal road.
Services are 10 a.m. Monday, March 7, 2016, at Houston First Christian Church with Delbert Gayer officiating. Burial with full military honors was in Pine Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Tony Cross, Grant Collins, Blake Collins, Ryan Bowlin, Danny Bandy and Justin Adey. Honorary pallbearers were Willard Adey, Willie Adey, Paul Foster, Freddie Adey and Mike Adey.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Compassus or The Greater St. Louis Honor Flight, 36 Four Seasons, Box 272, Chesterfield, MO 63017 or you may donate online at www.gslhonorflight.org. To send an online condolence, please go to www.evansfh.com.
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