James Fletcher Sr.

GIDEON, Mo. -- James Louis Fletcher Sr., 81, of Gideon died Monday, Aug. 28, 2006, at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo.

He was born April 8, 1925, at Gideon, son of Louis Bennett and Marie McComb Fletcher. He and Maxine duBarry were married June 8, 1947, in Russellville, Ky. She died July 2, 2005.

Mr. Fletcher was a 1942 graduate of Gideon High School, and 1948 graduate of the University of Missouri.

He worked at Fletcher's Gin and Land Co. more than 50 years and was president and CEO at the time of his death. He was a supervisor with Little River Drainage Board from 1989 to 2005.

Mr. Fletcher was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Malden, Mo., was an elder and sang in the choir. He served on Gideon School Board and was a past president.

He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, retiring from the Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel.

Survivors include two sons, James Fletcher Jr. and Cynthia of Savannah, Ga., Carter Fletcher of Gideon; a brother, Jack Fletcher of Gideon; a sister, Marian English of Fulton, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Sarah Fletcher, Abigail Fletcher, Lt. James Samuel Fletcher, Allison Fletcher, Angela Fletcher, Emily Fletcher and Lucy Fletcher.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church in Malden. The Rev. Bob Phillips will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery at Kennett, with military rites to be conducted.

Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden is in charge of arrangements.

The family suggests memorials to Our Fallen Heroes Foundation, 521 West Central Foundation, Winter Haven, Fla., 33880, or First Presbyterian Church in Malden.