Michael Larry Flowers, 61, of Ludowici, Georgia, passed away peacefully at his home on December 3, 2025, surrounded by the family he cherished above all else. His quiet departure has left an aching void in Long County, where neighbors still speak of the man who would drop everything to help fix a tractor or pull a car from a ditch.
A devoted husband of 38 years to Karen, Michael was the steady heartbeat of his household, raising two daughters with gentle guidance and unwavering pride. He celebrated every milestone with homemade pecan pies and was the first to offer a hug or a quiet word when life grew heavy, building a home filled with laughter and the smell of supper simmering on the stove.
Born and raised in the red-clay heart of Long County, Michael graduated from Bradwell Institute and served four years in the U.S. Army as a mechanic before returning home to Fort Stewart and later to heavy-equipment work along the coast. For three decades he ran excavators and dozers with a calm precision that earned respect on every job site, mentoring younger operators while never losing his easy smile.
Even after retirement, Michael stayed busy volunteering at the Ludowici Food Pantry, organizing monthly drives that kept shelves stocked for families in need. He spent evenings in his garage workshop restoring old John Deere tractors for neighbors and carving wooden duck decoys that lined the shelves of local homes.
An outdoorsman through and through, he rose before dawn to hunt the Altamaha River bottoms and spent countless weekends teaching his five grandchildren how to bait a hook or spot a deer track. Sunday afternoons often found him strumming an old guitar on the porch swing while the smell of barbecue drifted across the yard.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, December 10, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Red Hill Cemetery in Ludowici, with military honors. The family welcomes visitors Monday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Howard Funeral Home and asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Long County Food Pantry in Michael’s memory.
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