Marie Fikes

Marie Whitten Fikes lived her life with class, aged with dignity and died with grace at age 95 Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at her North Little Rock home. Marie Fikes was a lovely lady known for her stylish hats. Always beautifully coiffed and elegantly dressed she exuded a perpetual sweetness of spirit. It was rumored that Katherine Hepburn and Grace Kelly showed pictures of Marie to their designers and said, "I want to look like that."
Marie spent her youth in White County, attending schools in Pangburn and Quitman. Upon graduation she received a CYA scholarship to Arkansas College in Batesville, now Lyon College.
After college Marie boarded a bus for the there-to-fore unknown Little Rock. Upon connecting with First Methodist Church, Little Rock, she rented a room at a residential boarding house and soon became a credit manager at M.M. Cohen and later held the same position for Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company.
Marie met the love of her life at a weekly World War II army-sanctioned Saturday night dance at Robinson Auditorium. Upon seeing Marie, the leader of the army band, big band recording artist Dick Fikes, rushed off the bandstand and asked Marie to dance before the music stopped. After returning from service in World War II, he asked for her hand in marriage.
Dick and Marie traveled the globe with his world-renowned big band orchestra before returning to North Little Rock where together they owned and operated Economy Paint and Wallpaper Company for many years and where Dick could be frequently heard saying, "Underneath all her beauty, class and sweetness, she's tough as a pine knot."
Marie was the second president of Memorial Hospitals Auxiliary, president of Little Rock's Chi Omega Mother's Club, president of Revouir Book Club and secretary of the Friendship Sunday School Class, First Methodist Church, North Little Rock.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Festus and Melinda Ruth Lanier Whitten of Pangburn and her beloved husband of 60 years, Dick Fikes. Marie is survived by Michael A. Fikes and Janyce M. Fikes.
In lieu of flowers, Marie requested all memorials to be sent in her honor to Laman Library Homebound Program, 2801 Orange Street, North Little Rock, AR 72114. Marie cherished the Homebound program which allowed her to have books delivered on her front porch for over ten years.
Interment will be private.
At her request a memorial event will be held in the Spring which was her favorite season. Arrangements by Smith Family Funeral Homes, North Little Rock.