July 8, 1942 — July 27, 2019
Retained Her Southern Charm
Evelyn Gayle Long Flora, 77, of Belle Mead died on Saturday, July 27.
Evelyn was born to Gilbert R. and Mary Hester Long on July 8, 1942, in Blacksburg, VA. She graduated from Blacksburg High School in 1959 then worked for several years to be able to independently finance college.
She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Radford College in 1964, completing the program in just three years. She taught school in both Warrenton, VA and Nashville, TN. On August 14, 1965 she married Robert Montgomery Flora of Richmond, VA, whom she met while playing volleyball on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
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.”
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: Martha Rorrer, Joyce (William) Garthune, Janice Price, Nancy (Harry) Keys, and Buford (Shirlene) Long; her brother-in-law Earle (Gladys) Flora; her former sister-in-law Gail (Johnny) Preston; and her 16 nieces and nephews, and their many children.
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.
