OBITUARY: ELIZABETH ‘LIZ’ FLEMING
Published in the October 25, 2025 issue.
Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Fleming, Crowley Lake’s longtime resident and friend to many, took her final bow after a brave battle with cancer. Some friends knew her as a meticulous bookkeeper, others an athlete, and a few as “Dizzy Lizzy,” the clown. Liz lived life joyfully with equal parts precision and pleasure.
She loved teaching, whether it was showing a yoga pose, raising a Labrador retriever, or sharing her garden’s mysteries. In her magnificent garden, she not only grew flowers and produce, she also fed birds. Hummingbirds were her favorite, though she did not mind sharing the bounty with all the early birds who woke her on her deck which she loved to sleep on, lulled to sleep with the sound of the creek even when the temperatures dipped below the comfort level.
“That’s why I have down blankets,” she would say. Liz’s love for the outdoors led to many adventures and stories. She hiked Half Dome and completed the Granite Man right here in the Eastern Sierra. She found great joy while being a nanny to Piper and taking her nephew Mark and his Boy Scout troop hiking up Rock Creek Canyon when he was just 10. Her love of trails took her far from home, including hiking Phase One of the Dolomites and exploring Bryce Canyon and Zion with her cousin Bernadette.
Liz had a few loves: her friends and friendships were very dear to her, the colors purple and pink, flowers, and Italy. She was always active and during the summers could be found at Whitmore Pool, Mammoth Track Club, and the High Sierra Tri-Club workouts. In the colder months, you’d find her biking on Green Church Road or cross-country skiing at Tamarack.
Her home gym, built by her ex-partner and friend Bob, was the perfect place for her to lead her friends in some peaceful, if not always graceful, yoga. She earned her Level 1 yoga teaching certificate at White Lotus and was very proud of that.
In her quiet time, you might find her at her sunny kitchen nook or table, reading historical fiction, doing a puzzle, or running the co-op headquarters.
Her deep connection to and love of Italy was undeniable. She became fluent in the language and immersed herself in the culture, and she loved traveling there. She cherished the time she spent exploring Italy with her friend Issi during her last few months, a period which included living with Anna, River and Paolo.
Liz leaves behind a legacy of laughter, movement, community, and a powerful reminder that life is best lived with a little splash of color and your hands in the dirt for all the fruitfulness that the garden delivers.
A Celebration of Liz’s Life will take place on Oct. 25 from 3–5 p.m. at the Crowley Community Center. Attendees are asked to wear bright colors. In lieu of flowers, Liz wants you to take a hike, plant a garden, adopt a dog, or maybe just clown around.
