Irene was born on January 8, 1927 in Kahoka, Missouri, a daughter of Ralph L. and Edna Opal Ingram McNally. When she was nine years old, her mother died and she moved to Oakland, California to live with relatives, graduating from high school there. Her father remarried, to Myra Egley. After graduating from high school, she returned to Kahoka to live with her family until going to college.
Irene graduated from University of Missouri-Columbia, where she majored in Home Economics, in 1951. While at MU, she met Thomas E. Fleming, who was also a student there. She and Tom were married in Columbia on December 22, 1951. Irene was a Home Economics teacher at several high schools, including Nevada High School and El Dorado Springs High School. Tom was a soil conservation agent and farmer in the Nevada area. For many years, Irene and Tom lived on a farm on K Highway southeast of Nevada before moving to a farm along Highway 71 near Lamar. They were married for over 55 years. Tom preceded her in death at age 90 on March 21, 2007. In recent years, Irene had lived in an independent living apartment at College View Manor in Joplin.
Survivors include her six children, Thomas R. (and Audrey) Fleming of St. Louis, Missouri; James E. Fleming (and Linda McClain) of Brookline, Massachusetts; Nancy K. (and Kenneth) Lies of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Brian L. Fleming of Webb City, Missouri; Charles A. Fleming of Springfield, Missouri; and Patricia D. (and Brendan) Scott of Springfield, Missouri, as well as nine grandchildren, Rachel Fleming of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Sarah and Katherine Fleming of Brookline, Massachusetts; Emily Lies of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Katherine Lies of Brooklyn, New York; Micah and Samuel Fleming of Webb City, Missouri; and Brenna and Alison Scott of Springfield, Missouri. She is also survived by one sister, Aileen L. Jinkens of Keokuk, Iowa.
Irene was preceded in death by her father, mother, and stepmother, a brother, James H. McNally, and three sisters, Wilma R. McNally, Lola F. Eder, and Waneta L. Smith, as well as two grandchildren, Thomas Adam Fleming and John Isaac Fleming.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, Missouri, with her son, Brian L. Fleming, officiating. Burial will follow at Newton Burial Park in Nevada.
Family will receive friends at Ferry Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening.
