FLEMING, Thomas Cleary

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ Wednesday, November 3, 2010 Thomas Cleary Fleming, 92, died Oct. 26, 2010, at his home in Phoenix with his family and friends by his side. He was born Sept. 13, 1918, in Kingman and grew up in Flagstaff. He was the grandson of one of Flagstaff's founders, Thomas Forsythe McMillan, who built the first homestead in Flagstaff. A U.S. Army veteran, he served with distinction in Europe during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star. Mr. Fleming began his banking career in Flagstaff as a teller at The Bank of Douglas before he served in the war. The bank held his job for him and after the war, he returned to the Bank of Douglas until 1951, when he moved to Tucson. In Tucson, he went to work for The Arizona Bank. He first managed the 902 N. Stone Street branch and was promoted to manager of the Tucson Downtown branch. In 1964, he was transferred to Phoenix to manage the Installment Loan Department. Mr. Fleming was named senior vice president in 1972. He was known as a tremendous mentor, who freely shared his extensive banking knowledge. He retired in 1982, after which he pursued his passions for travel and historic preservation. He remained actively involved in Flagstaff during his lifetime, serving on numerous committees. He was a member of the Arizona Historical Society Board and the Northern Arizona Historical Society Board for many years. Mr. Fleming was devoted to the Roman Catholic Church and served for many years on the finance committees of both the Tucson and Phoenix Dioceses. His daughter wishes to acknowledge the excellent, compassionate care he was blessed with from Dr. Walter Nieri of the Geriatric Fellowship Program in Sun City, Dr. Ira Ehrlich of Phoenix and the Sun Valley Hospice. Mr. Fleming lived a long and extraordinary life full of service, adventure, good humor, music and love. He will be treasured and missed by his family and friends. Mr. Fleming is survived by his beloved daughter, Mariah Fleming Bowen (Ray) of Tempe; two stepgrandchildren; brothers Edwin of Scottsdale and Art of Milwaukee, Wis.; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends whose lives he touched. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mamie and George; his brothers, George and Bob; and daughter Ann. Mr. Fleming's life will be commemorated in Phoenix on Thursday with visitation from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by a memorial service until 8 p.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, in Phoenix. A funeral Mass will be at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4715 N. Central Ave., on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery, 201 W. University Ave., in Flagstaff. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Museum of Northern Arizona or the Arizona Historical Society.