Marie Flickinger died Monday, Nov. 11, at her home in Houston. She was 82.

Flickinger was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa Sept. 1, 1942, to parents Alexander and Mary Spence. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Edward Spence and cousin Joan Marie Spence.

Flickinger is survived by her husband David; sons Fred and wife Leslie Flickinger and David (Leader owner) and wife Ellie Flickinger; granddaughter Kimberly and husband Matthew Lipina; granddaughter Courtney Durham and great-grandchildren Abigail, Jackson and Penelope Durham; granddaughter Natalie and husband Jose Abarca and great-grandchildren Kelvin Lopez, Noah and Elliana Abarca and Isabella and husband Sebastian Delgado; brother Morris Spence; sister Alexis Lochner; cousin Patty Spence; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; her friends; and staff at the South Belt-Ellington Leader.

After graduating high school in Council Bluffs, Flickinger married her husband David in 1962. The couple first relocated to Minnesota before moving to the Houston area. The pair landed in Genoa, Texas before later settling in the newly developed Sagemont subdivision.

Dubbed by many as the "Mayor of South Belt," Flickinger devoted much of her adult life to the creation of and the advancement of the South Belt community in southeast Houston.

In 1976, along with fellow housewife Bobby Griffin, Flickinger founded the South Belt Press newspaper, where she would work until her death – sometimes around the clock. Later evolving into the South Belt Leader and then the South Belt-Ellington Leader, the local newspaper would cover all aspects of the growing South Belt community, including politics, local flooding and infrastructure, area schools and youth sports.

During her tenure at the newspaper, Flickinger made several lifelong bonds and connections. Despite covering hundreds of news stories over her decades in journalism, Flickinger was probably best known for a series of investigative articles in the 1980s that exposed the dumping of toxic waste near Beamer and Dixie Farm Road at a location that would later be known as the Brio Superfund site.

A devout Catholic, Flickinger was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, before becoming a founding member of St. Luke the Evangelist. Flickinger made history in the 1970s when she was one of two women in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston selected to administer communion. St. Luke honored Flickinger in October 2023 when she was recognized at the church's inaugural gala. Flickinger made history again in the 1990s when she became the first female to be elected to serve on the San Jacinto College Board of Trustees, a position she would hold for nearly 30 years, retiring as its chair shortly before her death.

Under Flickinger's leadership, San Jacinto College achieved many milestones, including being named a top-10 community college in the country by the prestigious Aspen Institute.

Flickinger also worked closely with Pasadena ISD, and in 2015, was named the school district's Distinguished Citizen of the Year. Dobie High School – the alma mater of her adult sons Fred and Davy – honored Flickinger in 2015, inducting her into the campus's Hall of Honor for her volunteer efforts in the community.

In 2018, Flickinger was recognized by Gov. Greg Abbott, receiving a Governor's Volunteer Award for her emergency efforts during Hurricane Harvey.

Flickinger's involvement in the South Belt community also included coordinating the annual Fourth of July parade and fireworks display, the annual South Belt Spectacular Cook-off and the annual South Belt-Ellington Leader Christmas drive for needy families in the area.

Memorial services will be held at St. Luke the Evangelist, 11011 Hall Road. A rosary will take place at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, followed by visitation from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Mass will take place at the church the following morning Thursday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Marie Flickinger Scholarship, per Flickinger's wishes.

Established by Flickinger in coordination with the San Jacinto College Foundation in May 2010, the Marie Flickinger Scholarship provides financial assistance to students in need, covering both tuition and books.

For additional information about the Marie Flickinger Scholarship or to donate to the program, visit host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form?svcid=tcs&formId=3bff4259-f0c7-4c12-9594-b3eddadfabb6&envid=p-donApIxdR02VE-K2bYJdgA&zone=usa.

Donations may also be made by check, payable to the San Jacinto College Foundation, referencing the Marie Flickinger Scholarship, mailed to 4624 Fairmont Parkway, Suite 210, Pasadena, TX 77504.