Jean Elizabeth Fleischauer Hoffman

JEAN ELIZABETH FLEISCHAUER HOFFMAN, 92, of Little Rock, departed this life on April 2, 2013. She was born May 17, 1920, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, to George Emery Otto Fleischauer and Eva Gladys Card Fleischauer. She was preceded in death in 2008 by her high school sweetheart and husband of 67 years, Leon Scott Hoffman. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters and their husbands, Helen (Joe) Halliburton and Mary (Horace) Duncan; her brothers and their wives, George (Trema) Fleischauer and Jack (Alyce) Fleischauer; grandson, Timothy Scott Hoffman, Sr.; and nephews, Donald Emery Davidson, and Jack Fleischauer, Jr. Left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Jeanie (Jay) Barron and Donna (Dan) Peterson; grandchildren, Chris (Lisa) McCants, Lauren McCants, Darcie (Mike Keller) Harvell, Kyle (Kris White) Harvell, John (Connie) Barron, Tom (Holly) Barron, Pat (Sharon) Barron, Kelly Hoffman, and Marc Peterson; Great-grandchildren, Audrey Kass, Timothy Hoffman, Jr., Tayler Albillar, Leilani Harvell, Lindsey (Matt) Farris, Hunter Barron, Matt Barron, Gavin Branson, Grayston Barron, Sean Barron, and Taylor Anderson. Jean's family came to Arkansas in 1920, and she lived her entire life in Little Rock. She graduated from Little Rock High School in 1938 and her first job was as legal secretary for the law firm, Owens, Ehrman and McHaney. While she always regarded her most important career to be that of homemaker for Leon and her girls, it was by no means her only one. She was the bookkeeper for Leon and John Hoffman Masonry Contractors, Arkansas sales representative for Scholastic Magazines, and owner/manager of Patterson Square Business Center. She took an active role in her children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's lives, going to practices, games, tournaments and competitions. No gymnastics meet could begin without the braiding of each gymnast's hair, earning her the endearing name of "Grandma Frenchbraids." She left a rich legacy of summers spent camping at Lake Ouachita, beach vacations in Florida, adventures taken in the RV exploring new destinations, magical Christmas and birthday celebrations and her delectable yeast rolls. Jean exemplified respect for human dignity and tolerance for the beliefs and individuality of all. She played an important role in the events of the Little Rock Desegregation Crisis of 1957. In 1958, as president of the Little Rock PTA Council, she was a force for integration as the only woman on a list of 178 people who signed the STOP Statement of Principles. She was a leader in the implementation of the struggle for equal rights and opportunity for all, never hesitating to stand up for her principles and living her life with great courage and a deep and abiding faith. Special thanks to Arkansas Hospice and caregiver Deedee Frazier. Her life will be celebrated with funeral services on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at 10 a.m., in the Chapel at Griffin Leggett, 5800 West 12th Street, Little Rock. Visitation will be Monday, April 8, 2013, 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.Pallbearers will be Chris McCants, Kyle Harvell, David Duncan, John Barron, Tom Barron and Pat Barron. Memorials may be made in her honor to Arkansas Children's Hospital, P. O. Box 2222, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or to the charity of your choice. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.griffinleggett.com.