Margaret Mary Esser

Margaret Mary "Marge" Esser, 81, of Conway, Arkansas passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock, Arkansas. Margaret was born in Maria Stein, Mercer, Ohio on November 24, 1929 to Gregor Joseph and Regina Mary Kramer Esser, Sr. Margaret served the Catholic Church as a nun from the age of 15, and her early education through the Catholic school system. She completed her Bachelor's degree by the age of 17, and began teaching in Cleveland, Ohio in 1946. Margaret continued her advanced education under a National Science Foundation grant in Math and Science at the University of Illinois in Champagne-Urbana, Illinois. She was one of 60 educators selected from a group of more than 2000 math and science teachers nationwide who applied for the grant, which allowed her to complete her Master's and PhD (a.b.t.) degree in the mid-1950's. After completion of her PhD (a.b.t.), Margaret began teaching college mathematics at St. Leo College near Tampa, Florida. Margaret left the convent in 1964 at the age of 35, though she remained an active member of the Catholic Church. She continued teaching advanced mathematics at the University of South Florida and Hillsborough Community College, also in Tampa, Florida, until her early retirement from the Florida school system in 1983. Margaret relocated to Arkansas in 1983, and taught various subjects at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, as well as at the high school level in Scotland. She finally retired from her formal teaching career in 1991 at the age of 63. Margaret has completed her earthly mission of life and has now gone to be at home with our Heavenly Father, and to a joyous reunion with many of her loved ones. Preceding her in death are her parents, a brother, Gregor Joseph Esser II, and sister Dolores M. "Dee" Esser Byers. Survivors include her son, Eric Eugene Esser (Summer) of Yangzhou, China. She has three granddaughters, Sara Elizabeth Esser of Malvern, Arkansas, Kaitlyn Margaret Esser of San Jose, California, and Sophia Yuwei Zhao of Yangzhou, China. She also has a number of nieces and nephews, Mark Allen Esser of Quitman, Arkansas, Karen Elaine Esser Moore of Clewiston, Florida, John Eric Esser (Kerry) of Mabelvale, Arkansas, Gregor Joseph Esser III (Duchess) and Matthew William Esser both of Conway, Arkansas. Margaret also found great joy from her many great nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m., April 9, 2011 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway. Burial service will follow at Crabtree Cemetery in Clinton, Arkansas. Online Guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.