Richard "Dick" H. Flowers

Richard “Dick” Homer Flowers, age 77, of Maple City, Michigan passed away Friday, May 23, 2025, at his home in the company of friends and family sharing stories and celebrating his life. Dick was born July 25, 1947 in Lapeer to Elinor and Jack Flowers, the oldest of three. He enjoyed a childhood full of hunting, fishing, and adventure and in 1965 was accepted to Northern Michigan College. In 1968 he joined the Peace Corps which sent him to the Philippines to aid in malaria prevention. In 1969 he returned to the States and joined the Navy as a corpsman (medic). After serving in Vietnam, he returned home in 1972 and lived in California for a short time. His first child a daughter, was born while the family was in California. Soon after her birth Dick and his wife Karen moved back to Michigan where he began working as a landscape designer at Zimmermans Landscaping. In 1974 his son was born. As a man who had no tolerance for boredom, and no shortage of curiosity or desire for adventure, Dick found many ways to fill his down time in the winter months. He became the pipe major in the Grand Traverse Pipe Band, he trained as a black smith, he built boats, and he wrote books. Dick taught rock and tree climbing at NMC and The Adventure Program. He was also a canoe and kayak instructor. He met the “light of his life,” Mary Buschell, who was the director of Trail’s Edge Camp, a camp for ventilator dependent children, while volunteering as a lead contractor on a one-of-a-kind treehouse. He volunteered at camp for 12 years as the ropes and rigging expert. Mary moved up from Ann Arbor and they were married in 2005. Settled in Maple City, they started Spruce Hill Farm where they raised goats, chickens, ducks, and turkeys as well as caring for horses, dogs, cats, and even a mule. Dick loved paddling on the lakes of Leelanau County in the cedar wood strip canoes he had built, walking through the forest behind his home, and never met an ice cream or a dog he didn’t like. He was known for his musical ability both as a singer and a bagpiper. But what Dick loved most of all was his family and friends. His children and grandchildren loved nothing better than sitting by a fire while he played guitar and sang songs as they made requests from his large repertoire. Dick is remembered by all who knew him as a truly remarkable man; kind, wise, good humored, and capable. Dick is survived by his wife, Mary, as well as his son and daughter, step-son and step-daughter, nine grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. There is a new piper in the heavenly band. A Celebration of Dick’s life will take place in the Spring of 2026 at Spruce Hill Farm, 310 W. Valley Rd., Maple City, Michigan 49664. Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Dick’s family at his tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

Richard "Dick" H. Flowers

July 25, 1947 - May 23, 2025