At the age of 86 years and 7 months, Mairl Fleming passed from this earth on Sunday afternoon March 26, 2023, at the family home.
Mairl Ruth Earls was born on Aug 19, 1936 to Grover Cleveland Earls and Vila Christine (Bell) Earls in Havana, Arkansas. She also attended school there. It was during these very early days of school that she met the love of her life, Billy Fleming. On Oct 6, 1951, they were married in Danville, Arkansas at the Yell County courthouse. They were married 71 years, 5 months but together a total of 80 years.
They lived in Havana, Arkansas for a few years, then they moved to California for a few years where on October 1,1953 their first son Bobby Gene was born. They returned to Arkansas for a short time until Bill heard of a job opportunity in Sand Springs, so they moved here.
On October 29, 1957 they had their only daughter Sharon Kay Fleming (Smith). Also, about that time they bought a service station that they owned and ran for 27 years. At one time or another every Fleming family member worked at the station.
On Dec 4, 1959, they welcomed Ricky Lee Fleming and 13 short months later on January 8, 1961, their last child David Ray Fleming was born. During this time in Sand Springs, they lived in a few different houses but in 1966 they moved to the house on Euchee Creek Blvd that they live in to this day.
Growing up on Euchee Creek was one of the best childhoods a kid could have. Mairl only worked outside the house a few times; she worked for about a year at the Pepsi plant and then the times that she worked at the station. Mairl raised the kids fulltime in the good ol' days when moms shooed the kids out the door first thing after breakfast, and you didn't really expect to see them again until it was getting dark and time for dinner. Sometimes a hungry child would come home around lunch time just to grab something to eat and they were gone again. The kids they played with became like family to them and still are to this day.
Well over 20 years after buying the station they realized they wanted to travel more and were tired and about ready to retire. That decision was made a lot easier for them when the station was broken into and almost everything was stolen.  In 1984 they got out and just rented the station out to others for several years.
During their time at the station, they became friends with several older folks who lived nearby. Being the great people they are, Bill and Mairl took care of all these older people until their deaths.
After they retired, they did a lot of traveling in the US in their motorhome. Mairl loved to fish. She also loved dogs and during her life there was hardly a time that she was without at least one dog. She really liked having family and friends around and especially her grandkids.
Mairl had been sickly for many of her last years of life or she would have done a lot more things especially gone fishing more.
Mairl was preceded in death by her mother and father Grover Cleveland Earls and Vila Christine (Bell) Earls; brothers Arlen, Robert and Ronnie Earls and sister Retha Morrison; Children Bobby Gene Fleming and David Ray Fleming; Grandchild Brandy Fleming.
She is survived by husband Bill of the home in Sand Springs; sisters Helen Adams of Sand Springs and Brenda Vestal of Ola Arkansas; daughter Sherry Smith of Sand Springs; son and daughter-in-law Rick and Darla Fleming of Tulsa; grandchildren Codi Wheeler and husband Keith; Kyle Fleming and wife Camee; Brock Fleming and wife Ashley; Blake Fleming and wife Shaunna; Jessica Fleming; Tiffanie Smith and husband Brad; Ashley Halliwill and husband Craig; Jake Deffenderfer; and Shiloh Kirby. 14 great grandchildren Jordyn, Maddie, Michael, Brynlee, Mya, Jaxen, Bryson, Cooper, Gauge, Hayden, Blaze, Shawn, Leyland, and Abby. 1 great great grandchild Marilyn.
The family would sincerely like to thank everyone for all that you have done for the family over the years and especially the last few years while Bill has worked so hard taking care of Mairl. You guys were God's angels helping Him to repay Bill and Mairl's kindness to others. You all gave us peace of mind that we didn't have to be there 24/7. You are so appreciated, and we pray that God will bless your lives. Thank you.