of Conway, AR

October 23, 1931 - July 9, 2024

Mary Moore Fleming died peacefully on July 9, 2024 at home in Conway, Arkansas.
She was born October 23, 1931 in Conway, Arkansas, the younger daughter of Louis and Lucy Moore.

In spite of the Great Depression, she had an idyllic childhood walking to school, roller skating up and down the sidewalks of Ash and Scott Streets, and playing with her ever-present dogs (''Inky'' was the first). She met the love of her life Jo Lee Fleming when his family moved to town during her high school years. The two were inseparable, serving together as chair and vice chair of many committees and organizations during their school years.

Mary graduated from Conway High School before attending Hendrix College where she majored in English while Jo majored in Music. Benefiting from a program offered by the Ford Foundation, she completed her education with a Master of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. During that time, she also taught English at Little Rock (Central) High School.

Mary and Jo Fleming were married in 1956 in Green Chapel at Hendrix College. They lived briefly in Fayetteville before returning to serve on the Hendrix faculty where Mary taught Freshman English and worked in the library, while Jo taught music and directed the choir. After starting their family, they relocated for a few years to Maplewood, NJ where Jo pursued his doctoral degree. They then settled in Jackson, TN, joining the faculty at Lambuth College. Mary again taught Freshman English before transferring to Jackson State Community College where she also taught business writing and journalism. She served as faculty advisor to the school newspaper for many years.

Mary and Jo raised their family in Jackson, where they were active members of Lambuth Memorial and First United Methodist Churches. A whole generation of Jacksonians were raised by Mary and her friend Verlene Humphreys as they rocked them in the church nursery. Mary was an excellent cook and homemaker with a passion for tending her garden and pulling weeds. She was actively involved in her children's education, serving as a room mother and attending all concerts, plays, and sporting events. She also joined many civic groups focused on literature and the arts as well as PEO Chapter Y.

Mary and Jo returned to Conway to live closer to family in their retirement. Mary was active in several book clubs, the 20th Century Club, the Shakespeare Club, and PEO Chapter CA where she served as President. Her friends remarked that Mary was an excellent conversationalist because she stayed informed about all things books, movies, current events, history, animals, and gardening to name a few. Her favorite conversations, however, focused on telling stories of ''Old Conway.''

In her final years, Mary was privileged to live at home where she was supported by many friends and neighbors, as well as her sons David and John and a whole host of companions provided by Home Instead. With her beloved corgi ''Beau'' by her side, Mary had the privilege of sitting in her own garden until the weekend before she died.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Julia Lee Moore, her daughter Emily Ann Castle, and her husband Jo Lee Fleming. She is survived by her sons David Fleming (Karla Hefty) and John Fleming (Susie), and six grandchildren: Hunter Castle, Andrew Fleming, Hope Castle, Harrison Castle, Annie Grace Groves (Garret), Hallie Castle, and Julie Ann Fleming.

A memorial service celebrating Mary's life will be held at First United Methodist Church, Conway on Monday, July 15 at 1:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the ''Fleming Family Scholarship Fund'' for ministerial students at the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-McNutt Funeral Home
650 Central Landing Blvd.
Conway, AR  72032
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com