Remembering Randy Flowers: Special person who influenced life

"She was a leading lady. Adair County has lost a treasure"

To ColumbiaMagazine.com

I was saddened to see that Randy Flowers had passed away. She was one of those special people who influenced my interests in Adair County history and genealogy.

I used to look forward to chatting with her at the library during my research. She could always give me a few new details about my own heritage and was so knowledgeable about the people and history of the entire county.

Her recollections of Dr. Flowers' medical practice was so interesting to me. I remember her recalling that some of the people on Burton Ridge couldn't afford to pay the cost of delivering a baby and instead they would give him a chicken or a hog.

When I had told Randy Flowers that my mother was a McGaha, she told me about Crocket McGaha and how he use to work for the highway department. When Crocket would pass their house on his road grader, she said her children would get excited and wave to him, yelling "Hey Gay-Hay." She said her kids were really sad when Crocket died in the late 50's.

Another time, Randy told me that a lady had traveled all the way from Pennsylvania to research the "Knifley" family. When the lady asked for Randy's assistance, she mispronounced the name as "Knife--Lee". Randy told her that to her knowledge Adair County was never home to any family by that name. The lady was frustrated because she had seen all these records of the name in Adair County. She angrily left and Randy said that she never did return. After the lady left Randy said she realized that the lady was actually looking for the "Knifley" family. She told me that story with such an embarrassed grin and we both got a good chuckle from it.

Mrs. Flowers was truly a classy lady and a great story teller. I had not seen her in many years, but I often thought of her when I looked at Birth/Death certificates with Dr. Flowers name on it and especially when someone would ask me if I had ever heard of "Knifley, Kentucky".

My deepest sympathies to the Flowers' family. Adair County truly lost a leading lady and a treasure.

s/Jason Harmon

RANDY FLOWERS

This story was posted on 2008-04-23 00:55:11
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