Evelyn Gayle Long Flora, 77, of Belle Mead, NJ passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 27, 2019.
She was born to Gilbert R. and Mary Hester Long, July 8, 1942, in Blacksburg, Virginia. Evelyn graduated from Blacksburg High School in 1959. She then worked for several years to be able to independently finance college. She received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Radford College in 1964, earning her degree in three years. She taught in both Warrenton, VA and Nashville, TN. On Aug. 14, 1965 she married Robert Montgomery Flora of Richmond, VA, whom she met while playing volleyball on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Evelyn will be lovingly remembered by her husband; her two children: son, Jonathan, and daughter, Susan, her son-in-law Charles Thomas and his children, Phoebe and Fletcher; her four sisters and her brother: Mrs. Martha Rorrer, Mrs. Joyce (William) Garthune, Mrs. Janice Price, Mrs. Nancy (Harry) Keys, and Mr. Buford (Shirlene) Long; her brother-in-law Mr. Earle (Gladys) Flora; her former sister-in-law Mrs. Gail (Johnny) Preston; and her sixteen nieces and nephews, and their many children.
Evelyn retained her Southern charm and gentle manner, and her wonderful smile could light up a room. She had an eye for design, evident in both her home and her personal style. She enjoyed the shore, reading, playing bridge with local women, and relaxing on the deck among her flowers. She took pleasure in decorating her home for holidays and with collectable art pottery. A creative outlet for Evelyn was writing children’s literature; her favorite story was the tale of the parrot “Kokomo.”
The family is planning a service to honor the life of their beloved wife and mother at the Blacksburg United Methodist Church on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 at 11 a.m. A memorial service was also held in New Jersey, her home of 35 years, on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church of Somerville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider making a donation to Feed the Children or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, two of the charities that Evelyn supported.