Marigold Leete Hiser

1933 - 2025

Marigold Leete Hiser
1933 - 2025
EAST LONGMEADOW
Marigold Leete Hiser passed away on October 23, 2025 in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. She was born November 13, 1933, to Henrietta Spatcher and Frederick DeLand Leete, Jr. in Indianapolis, Indiana.
She attended Wellesley College and graduated from Northwestern University, from which she earned a Bachelor of Arts in June 1956 and a Master's Degree in Biblical Studies in August 1956. She received a Master's Degree in Slavic Studies from Indiana University in 1957.
She married James Milton Hiser in 1957 and they moved to Dallas in 1960.
In her 55 years in Dallas, Marigold devoted herself to the community and social service. She was President of United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church, President of the PTA at her children's junior high school, chairwoman of the Wellesley Book and Author luncheon, and President of her local neighborhood association. At their home on Lakewood Boulevard, she and Jim hosted cast parties for Woodrow Wilson high school musicals, cooked chicken tetrazzini for hundreds at fundraisers, and inaugurated and hosted block parties for their neighborhood. Their front lawn was "the" spot to view the local Fourth of July parade and enjoy Marigold's homemade strawberry, vanilla, and blueberry ice cream. Marigold designed and sewed Woodrow Wilson's band flags and banners. She led Camp Fire groups for many years, helping girls receive the Wohelo medallion (the highest Camp Fire award given) and college scholarships. She received the 20-year Camp Fire service award. Marigold tutored under-privileged teenagers at Woodrow Wilson, all the while working for several years at Jim's insurance business and contracting simultaneously with the Dallas Times Herald and the Dallas Morning News.
Marigold's homemade bread is legendary in Dallas.
Marigold had a pathological fear of wasting time. Her knitting was always with her. If she wasn't knitting, she was checking Bible quotations or historical dates and facts in her many Bible concordances, dictionaries, and translations. The family learned at an early age not to ask a question unless you wanted a complete answer.
In her final decade, Marigold moved with Jim to Massachusetts to be closer to family and to be able to spend more time with their grandsons.
Marigold's greatest joys were her books and summers on the historic family property in Mackinaw City, Michigan. But more than anything else she loved her family, and was inordinately proud of her children, daughters-in-law, and her grandchildren.
Marigold was predeceased by her husband James Milton Hiser, who passed away on January 13, 2019 and her grandson John D (Jay) Lyle, III. She leaves her children James Kenyon Hiser (Margaret Queen), Miriam Eliza Hiser (Dan Needham), Tracy Hiser Harding (Jon Harding) and Dr. William Leete Hiser (MiMi Vizioli); her grandchildren William Leete Hiser, Jr., Christopher Thomas Hiser, Joseph Alexander Hiser and Gareth James Harding as well as her Leete nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to a Funeral Home Service at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main Street, East Longmeadow. Please visit the funeral home website for updated information. A celebration and burial will be held at her beloved summer home of Mackinaw City, Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First United Methodist Church, 1928 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 7201 or Church of the Straits, 307 N. Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City, MI 49701. For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.forastiere.com