Elizabeth Blair Maierle

Elizabeth Blair Maierle, age 91, was born on August 10, 1924 in Waldo, Arkansas to Harvey and Laverda Blair. After spending much of her childhood in Lula, Mississippi, she and her family moved to Memphis, TN where she finished school at Humes High School her senior year.

Elizabeth met her future husband on a blind date and she and Carl A. Maierle were married on December 5, 1942. Together after being married 14 years, they adopted 2 children, Cheri Lynn and Carl Blair Maierle, with Elizabeth taking on the most fulfilling “job” of being a mother.

Elizabeth had a variety of working careers during her lifetime. She was a company’s bookkeeper for a number of years and a school secretary with the Memphis City Schools for 8 years. Upon her husband’s retirement from Memphis, Light, Gas and Water, they moved to Sheridan, Wyoming to be closer to her sister. While in Sheridan, Elizabeth opened a fabric shop and enjoyed that while she had the business. She was an accomplished seamstress and did alterations for numerous years. They made several good friends during their time in Sheridan and kept in touch with them for the remaining years. After the passing of their son in 1978, they returned to Memphis to be near their daughter and spent a good number of years there before relocating to Cleveland, TN in 1990, following their daughter, son in law, and only grandchild at the time. Over the next few years they welcomed 3 more grandchildren and enjoyed watching the 4 of them grow up. She was so proud to be known as their Nana and Nana to many of their friends as well!

Upon moving to Cleveland, TN in 1990, she and her husband joined First Baptist Church and she was a faithful member enjoying the fellowship of the Gleaners Sunday School class. She was also blessed to be able to enjoy some of the senior adult ministries at Broad Street Methodist such as regularly attending the FRINS group when it was active and enjoying the Over 80’s Banquet each year there.

She also had a lifelong love of flowers and designing floral arrangements. She went on to obtain her certification to become a National Flower Show judge, which she did for many years while in Memphis. During that time, she entered her own floral designs into various competitions winning many blue ribbons. This love of flowers led her to work as a florist in both Sheridan, Wyoming and Cleveland, TN, a job which brought her much joy. Loving gardening in general, she and her husband planted a big vegetable garden annually, which she continued after the passing of her beloved partner and gardening buddy. Many happy days were spent in that garden with their grandchildren serving as their “little helpers.”

On Saturday, July 2, 2016, at the age of 91, she joined her husband, Carl A. Maierle, also know as Smiley or C.A. as well as their son, Carl Blair Maierle, in their eternal home. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Betty B. Haddix. Her life will continue to be remembered and honored by her daughter, Cheri Maierle Jackson and her favorite son in law, Steve Jackson, whom she dearly loved as one of her own! She is also survived by her grandchildren Stephen and Gentry Jackson, Tyler Jackson, Daniel Jackson, and Rachael Jackson, for whom she was so very proud to be their Nana!

A celebration of her life will take place Sunday, July 10, 2016 at Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home in Cleveland, TN at 3:00 p.m. with visitation starting at 2:00 p.m. that same day.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Baptist Library which she dearly loved or a donation to the senior adult ministries at either First Baptist Church or Broad Street Methodist Church.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Maierle family guestbook at www.fikefh.com