Obituary of Margery Ann Fleming

Margery Ann Fleming, 72, of State College, died Saturday, February 1, 2014, at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio.

Born July 29, 1941, in Cleveland, OH, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Benjamin S. and Virginia E. McBride Gillespie. On June 9, 1962, in Pittsburgh, she married Glenn Fleming, who survives.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her two children Stephen C. Fleming and his wife, Laura Collado, of State College and Rebecca L. Fleming of Evergreen, CO; one brother, John B. Gillespie and one sister, Mary Suzanne Gillespie, both of Pittsburgh; and four grandchildren, Sofia, Patricio, and Nicolás of State College and Alyssa of Evergreen, CO.

Margery was a 1959 graduate of Edgewood High School in Edgewood, where she was a classmate of her husband, Glenn. She initially attended Case Western University in Cleveland, OH, and resumed her university education in 1986 at the Pennsylvania State University from which she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and a minor in Business Legal Environment in 1992.

In State College, Margery worked as a teacher's aide at the Easterly Parkway Elementary School, as a secretary for the Corl Street Elementary School, and, for a time, as the manager of the Snap Dragons Floral and Gift Shop. Margery became associated with the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in the Festival's early years serving as the chairperson of the Banner Competition and as its office manager in the 1970's and early 1980's. During her years at the Festival, many came to know Margery affectionately as the "Tee-Shirt Lady" for her promotion of the Festival tee-shirts.

Perhaps most important to Margery was her activity in the Episcopal Church. She became an active member first of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Hollidaysburg in 1962 and then of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in State College in 1973 through the rest of her life. At St. Andrew's she served as a youth group leader, a vestry member, and on the church's altar guild. Margery completed the training as a Stephen Minister in 2001, a program for Christ-centered care to hurting people. She continued her religious training through the School of Theology at the Sewanee University: The University of the South in Sewanee, TN. She completed the program's Theological Education for Ministry ("EFM") in 2006 and earned the program's distinction of Certified Mentor in 2012. As a program graduate and mentor, she participated in and moderated weekly classes for EFM program students.

Margery also took great pride in and was devoted to her membership in the women's service organization known as PEO for which she served many years as secretary in the organization's S Chapter in State College. There she found outlet and expression for the charitable work to which she was devoted that began as far back as her days as member and president of the Hollidaysburg Women's Club in the 1960's.

Margery's personal passions were as a skilled seamstress, quilter, and bridge player. She cherished many years of vacation sailing with friends in the Caribbean, Penn State Football and Basketball.

The highlight of her life, though, was her involvement in any of the activities of her children and grandchildren, especially their hockey matches, always finding time and energy to serve formally in roles such as a Girl Scout Leader or informally in any role.

Margery was very outgoing and known to all, stranger and friend alike, by her near trademark warm, friendly smile and kind words.

Friends will be received from 12 until 3 p.m. and 5 until 8 p.m., on Friday, February 7, 2014, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College.

A funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Our Lady of Victory, 820 Westerly Parkway, State College, with Father Richard Wall, Father Bruce Smith and the Reverend Dr. G. Edwin Zeiders officiating. Burial will follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to PEO Chapter S, in care of Kathy Harford, 1292 Haymaker Road, State College, PA 16801 or to the St. Andrew's EFM Program, 208 West Foster Avenue, State College, PA 16801.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.