Michelle Marie Hastings

I was born to Sharon and Paul Bock in 1962 in St. Louis, MO. I had 2 siblings, a sister Christine, 5 years younger, a brother, Craig, 3 years younger that passed away at the age of 1 year 3 months. When I was 8, we moved to Cherry Hill, NJ, then 2 years later moved to Pittsburg. When I was entering the 5th grade, we moved back to St. Louis where I graduated from Parkway West High School. I then attended Drury College, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. My hobbies included anything with my family, tennis and making rosaries for friends. I was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church.

On January 14th, 1985 my life changed forever when I met the love of my life, Stan Hastings, while on a ski trip to Lake Tahoe. We were married on August 16th, 1986 in Little Rock where we’ve lived, worked, and raised our family. Little did I know that I was marrying a whole family, not just Stan!

When I first moved to Little Rock, I started my career in Sales at Complete Computing, where I rose to Sales Manager. In 1992, I bought T-Shirt Trivia, a t-shirt screen printing business. Within a year, we expanded into embroidery and promotional products. A few years later, we developed into a full service marketing company, solving any needs that our clients may have. We then changed our name to Trivia Marketing. We were an early adopter of web site design and social media skills advancing clients ahead of their competition. Always ahead of the trend, in 2018 we installed a state of the art screen printing press and became one of few companies in the US to offer large scale water-based screen printing. Over the last 28 years, we have grown to be one of the largest screen printing companies in Arkansas. Trivia has clients in Bermuda, London, Europe, and all across the United States. Along the way I started a clothing line, Wear Luck, that set a sales record on the Good Morning America “Deals and Steals.” After being diagnosed with cancer I started a blog, QuestionsandCancers.com, for cancer patients to share experiences and ask questions of others. According to Arkansas Business, Trivia Marketing is the 7th largest women-owned business within the state.

I was blessed to have 3 wonderful children. First was Stanley. There has never been a person with a bigger heart. Stanley has his dad’s sense of humor and my soft side. He married the love of his life, Jordyn, in 2015. They gave me my only grandchildren, Patrick and Margo. I know he is a wonderful husband and father for all times.

Tyler came 2 years later and was born with a virus that attacked his central nervous system. He is hearing impaired and at age 4 he received a cochlear implant. At that time, Tyler was the youngest person in Arkansas to be implanted. With countless hours of physical and speech therapy, he now lives a productive and independent life. Due to his condition, I garnered a lifelong passion for improving special education, with a focus on taking waste out of the system and ensuring that every child gets the education they deserve.

Then, there was the surprise child 5 years later, our daughter Ali. She continues to surprise me every day. When I look at her, it’s like looking in the mirror. I see determination and love of life, in her. She has her father’s adventurous side balanced with my practical side. She once told me “I will be on the cover of FORBES, long before you”…you go girl!! While having boys was great, having a daughter is special for a mom.

Stan, my husband, what can I say? For 34 years, the “country bumpkin” that initiated our first conversation in the Reno Airport, has been my rock!!! From raising kids, to running a business, he has always been there for me. Together we did so much, but still there was so much more we wanted to do. If you ask our children, they will tell you that we never argued. We lived our life together with one rule: “Don’t let the little things get bigger than they are, and the big things really aren’t that big.” Thanks for all you have done for me, all the way to the end!

There is not enough paper for me to write all of my life’s memories of my life. There are so many family members, friends and acquaintances that have played a part in making me who I was. To everyone that has had an influence on my life, I say, “Thank You.” To all of you who sent thoughts, prayers, texts, emails, came to “French Fry Friday,” “Coffee and Chemo,” and every other type of support over the last 5 years, I say “Bless you.” I never would have made it this long without all of you.

During my time in Little Rock, I have served on numerous boards and committees, most recently serving on a transition committee for Mayor Scott, as well as the board of Rockefeller Cancer Institute at UAMS. My time on the board at UAMS was too short to see the Cancer Center gain the National Cancer Institute designation that it so desperately needs. So, I ask that you not send flowers, but instead make a donation to the Winthrop P Rockefeller Cancer Institute, 4301 W Markham St., Slot #716, Little Rock, AR 72205.

Don’t be sad, I had a great life!!! Michelle Hastings

Please join the family for a visitation at 6:00 PM on Friday, August 16, followed by a Rosary at 7:00 PM. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 17. All services will be at the Cathedral of St Andrews, 617 S Louisiana, Little Rock AR. A reception will follow the Funeral. All arrangements will be casual dress.