Elsie Louise Cawthorn was born on November 12, 1924 in Elm Springs, Arkansas, but spent most of her life in Dallas and her later years in Mineola, where she was her happiest. She graduated from high school in Springfield, Missouri and married Murrell Delton Franklin Fleming in 1944. She had three children. She was home with her children until 1961 when she started working for Methodist Hospital Central, where she worked for 27 years until she retired. Louise loved the Lord with all her heart and loved going to church at First Baptist Mineola. During her marriage she belonged to the Church of God. Her children were of utmost importance to her, but in her later years she enjoyed the fellowship of the ladies in her Sunday school class, Singles II, many of whom have predeceased her. She especially appreciated her deacon and doctor, Dr. Kyle Gully, and senior minister Dr. Mark Neeley.
Louise is survived by her daughter Connie Louise Lee Olimpio of Richardson; her sons and their wives Michael Delton and Jean Fleming of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas and Donald Franklin and Marquita Fleming of Grand Saline; her grandchildren Jeffrey Shane and Candy Lee, Michael Anthony Olimpio and Regina Fetterolf, Jennifer Michelle Fleming, Kristy Lynn Fleming and Tony Byrd, Shelby Dawn Fleming and Dustin Burleson; her great-grandchildren Carsen Lee, Layla Olimpio, Kaylee Byrd, Lucas Byrd, Liam Byrd and Wyatt Burleson; and another to be born in June 2018. She is also survived by her brother Edwin Eudell Cawthorn of Hartwell, Georgia and numerous nieces and nephews.
Louise was preceded in death by her husband Murrell, her parents, Jesse and Elsie Cawthorn, formally of Elm Springs, Arkansas; her sister Eudora Cawthorn Haydon of Little Rock, Arkansas; and her brother R.F. Cawthorn of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Mother, Aunt Lou and Granny, as she was known, was a sweet and caring parent, grandmother and aunt. She will be missed by her family, but as she said to her family, she was ready to go.
A Memorial service will be held for Louise at 1:00 pm Saturday, March 10, 2018, at the First Baptist Church of Mineola, with Dr. Mark Neeley officiating.
