Carrie Fleming

Carrie Fleming, 92, of Basco, peacefully passed away at 11:10 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20, with her daughters, Janet and Debbie, by her side in the home of her daughter, Janet Lee White, of Cedar Falls, IA.

Carrie was born to Hugh and Ruth (Wagstaff) Plowman, in Flint, MI on June 27, 1929. Carrie attended Basco school system and graduated from Gem City Beauty School in 1947. Carrie was a member of the Basco Methodist Church.

She was the oldest of 10 children and was a very caring and loving sister to her siblings. Carrie started working for neighbors at a very early age to help her family. She will always be known for her generosity and caring for the many people and families within the Basco community.

On Aug. 7, 1948, Carrie married Curtis Eugene Fleming in Kansas City, KS. Throughout their marriage, Carrie and Curtis owned and operated Fleming’s Tavern for many years. Carrie continued the business after Curtis’ death on Aug. 25, 1968 in order to provide for their children.

Carrie was known for her very hot chili. People from all over the country knew about Basco chili. Friends and family still talk about her famous chili, kids’ cheeseburgers with ketchup smiley faces, delicious tenderloins, and homemade tacos.

Holidays were extremely important to Carrie and her business. It was a tradition to have a huge timber cedar tree decorated extremely bright with thousands of lights. Her love for children was undeniable. She would bring Santa to town to share with all the children to make them feel special. For Halloween, Carrie would entertain the community with a huge bonfire and wiener roast with a costume contest. A favorite time and memory for Carrie was the Basco 4th of July fireworks and parade. The Basco 100th Anniversary parade held a special place in her heart, as family made a “Chili Queen of Basco’ sign and drove her in the parade.

After retiring, Carrie loved to provide desserts for The Office on chicken night to raise money for Relay for Life and HUGS. Carrie was a long-time survivor of melanoma and took her health very serious. She found joy in being a St. Louis Cardinals fan, looking for four leaf clovers and doing crossword puzzles. Carrie enjoyed many trips to California to visit long-time friends, the McGirrs, as well as to visit her special aunt Della Dart in Ramona, CA. She spent one winter with Debbie and Wayne McClain in Eureka, CA. Carrie’s last trip was one month ago when her daughter, Janet Lee, and special niece, Lori Dickinson, drove her to Lori’s house in South Carolina.

Carrie was a strong woman and an avid giver. She instilled the importance of family and generosity in all who knew her. She was very proud of her children and adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Carrie is survived by three children, Randall (Janet) Fleming of Carthage, Deborah (Wayne) McClain of Waterloo, IA, and Janet White of Cedar Falls, IA; four grandchildren, Amber (Mike) Schuchmann of Waterloo, IA, Andrea (Adam) Jones of Carthage, Jagger (Jordan) White of Waterloo, IA, and Weston White of Cedar Falls, IA; four great grandchildren, Max Schuchmann, Cash and Kymber Jones, and Roman White; a special niece, Lori (Chris) Dickinson; a great nephew and niece, Brice and Haley Dickinson; a great niece Amy (Steve) Crawford; many other loving nieces and nephews; two sisters, Janice McVeigh of Wayland, MO and Karen Pierce of Quincy; and one brother, Raymond Plowman of Basco.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Curtis; grandson, Curtis Fleming; son-in-law, Don White; three brothers, Curt, Gary and Billy; and three sisters, Darlos Rampley, Marjorie Heisler and Betty Belleville.

Graveside services will be held at the Basco South Cemetery on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 at 12 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at the Basco Community Center. Memorials may be designated to the Basco Community Center, or HUGS of Hancock County.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carrie Fleming, please visit our floral store.