Margaret Mary "Marge" Esser, 81, Conway, Ark., died April 6, 2011, at Hospice Home Care, Little Rock, Ark.

She was born in Maria Stein on Nov. 24, 1929, to Gregor Joseph Sr. and Regina Mary Kramer Esser.

Survivors include a son, Eric Eugene (Summer) Esser of Yangzhou, China; and three granddaughters.

Deceased are a brother, Gregor Joseph Esser II; and a sister, Dolores M. "Dee" Esser Byers.

She served the Catholic church as a nun from age 15 until age 35, when she left the convent. She completed her education through the Catholic school system, receiving a bachelor's degree at age 17 and began teaching in Cleveland in 1946.

She completed master's and doctorate degrees in the mid-1950s and began teaching college mathematics at St. Leo College, Tampa, Fla. She taught advanced math at the University of South Florida and Hills-borough Community College in Florida and retired from the Florida system in 1983. She then relocated to Arkansas and taught at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, as well as at the high school level in Scotland, Ark. She retired from teaching in 1991.

Funeral services were April 9, 2011, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway with burial following at Crabtree Cemetery, Clinton, Ark.

Condolences can be left at rollerfuneralhomes.com.