Elma Allen Fleck

Elma Allen Fleck was born October 17, 1929, in Niceville, Florida. Her parents were Rube Joe and Anna Allen. She lived in this area all her life except for a few years when she lived in Ohio and Indiana. She married William Clinton Maggard in 1947, and their daughter Sandra Maggard was born August 28, 1949, in Greensburg, Indiana.
She married George Albert Fleck in 1954 and their daughter Tamilla Lynn was born June 9, 1966, in Niceville, Florida. She was grandmother (or momo, as she preferred) to 7 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great grandchildren.
Being born just days before the stock market crash, she grew up during the Great Depression. Because of those dire circumstances, in addition to her schooling she began to work to help her mama when she was just a young girl. She loved doing things. Never one to sit and read a book for pleasure, she said that her Aunt Sarah Howell told her you had nothing to show for reading. Mom loved using her hands to do things. She loved to garden, crochet, sew, hammer, saw, fix a roof, build things, and paint. She loved to make things. She loved to cook, especially for others. She cared for the elderly and disabled in her home for many years. She liked to fish. She loved to go to country dances. She loved her farm in Basin Bayou where she had hogs, cows, geese, sheep, goats, ducks, guinea hens and chickens over the years.
Even as she grew older, she was almost constantly on the go, doing something. She loved being busy. She would feed the homeless, gather necessities for them, sewed dresses for NICU babies, crocheted hats and booties for babies, made baby blankets. Mom just loved to serve and help people and never seemed to be too tired to do it. Even her own health struggles did not slow her down. She said many times that she felt that was her calling here on earth.
She was loved and admired by many and as the scripture says, we her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great great grandchildren “arise up and call her blessed” for we know more than most that throughout her life she has “looked well to the ways of her household, never, ever eaten “the bread of idleness” and has opened her mouth with wisdom” to us in all her days. We know that “many daughters have done virtuously” but to us her family, she “excellest them all, and that “her own works will praise her at the gates” of heaven.
Funeral service will be held Monday, December 13, 2021, beginning at 11:00 am, at The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Niceville – 1100 Palm Blvd. South Niceville, Florida 32578, with Bishop Craig Miller officiating. Burial to follow at Sweeney Cemetery 119 Martha Street Niceville Florida 32578. The family will receive friends Monday, December 13th from 10 to 11 am at the church.
You may leave your condolences at www.brackneyfuneralservice.com