Mila "Sue" Fleming's Obituary
(Mila) Sue Fleming passed away early on Sunday, September 11, 2022, surrounded by her
family. She was 85.
Growing up. Sue was born, raised and lived most of her adult life in Rogers, Arkansas. Her
parents, Milo and Opal Beck, were decades-long pillars of the Rogers community. Following
in her mother Opal’s footsteps, Sue has been an avid supporter of Downtown Rogers, a
champion of the Museum and the town’s history and relevance.
She attended the one-room schoolhouse at Prairie Creek, where Opal taught, for many years.
She then graduated from Rogers High School in 1955 and went on to attend Abilene
Christian College in Texas before moving back to Northwest Arkansas.
Marriage. In 1957, she met and married Sam Fleming, then of Springdale. They were married
for 54 years until his passing in 2011. Sam and Sue were beloved fixtures of both the
Springdale and Rogers Churches of Christ.
An Open Door. Sue loved gatherings and her door was always open. She welcomed kinfolk,
friends and foster children. Nothing made her happier than to organize and host an event in
her home. She was a wonderful friend, could chat for hours for fun or hold a hand in times of
need.
Singing. A-cappella singing was important in her life. Sue was raised in a family of singers
and had an amazing voice. In the early 1950s, when just in High School, she was part of a
female singing group with her mother and aunts called The Beck Sisters. They sang Gospel
and popular tunes of the era in venues and events around the four state area. Song was a
highlight of many church or family function and she lent her lovely voice to countless
weddings and memorial services over the years.
Work Life. Sue loved working and being around people in a work setting. For many years, she
was an accountant, did private bookkeeping and worked with Sam in his contracting
business. She also owned several retail stores — most notably, Sue’s School Supply in
Downtown Rogers during the 1980-90s.
The Hogs. Sue was a life-long Razorback fan, punctuated by the fact that Sam had played on
the team during his freshman year at the U of A. She fervently called the Hogs and rooted for
the Razorbacks up until a week before her passing. Happily, she got to witness their first win
of the current season.
Family. Most importantly, Sue was a devoted mother and grandmother. She nurtured a large
extended family and long list of friends. She is survived by four children: John Fleming (wife,
Kyra), Tony Sparks-Fleming and Brandon Fleming (fiancé, Cassandra) of the Rogers area and
Samantha Jan Fleming (husband, Grady Candler) of Pasadena, California. She has seven
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Sue was formidable, ever-energetic, and in good health until her last months of life — a true
blessing to Sue, her friends and her family.
She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
A memorial and celebration of her life will take place on Friday, September 16, 2022, 11am at
Southside Church of Christ in Rogers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her name (note in comments section)
to Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter: https://nwaws.org/donation-form/
What’s your fondest memory of Mila "Sue"?
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Share a story where Mila "Sue"'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mila "Sue" you’ll never forget.
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