Wanda Fletcher

GIDEON, Mo. -- Wanda Maxine duBarry Fletcher, 80, of Gideon died Saturday, July 2, 2005, at Twin Rivers Hospital in Kennett, Mo.

She loved her family, her home, her friends, her church and country. Those that knew her and loved her called her by many different names, "Maxine," "Mother," "Grandmother," and "Mimur".

Born in Olmstead, Ky., April 25, 1925, she was the daughter of Maude Elizabeth Sanders duBarry Kemp and Edwin Owen duBarry.

She grew up in rural southern Kentucky surrounded by the presence and love of her extended family, especially of her grandmother, "Little Mother," and her Aunt Marguerite and Uncle Kenneth Stratton who gave her away at her wedding.

She graduated from Olmstead High School in 1941 and from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1948. She taught elementary school a few years before she married.

She married James Louis Fletcher, a U.S. Air Force officer of Gideon, June 8, 1947. They had two sons, James Louis Fletcher Jr. and David Carter Fletcher. She and her husband lived in Gideon their entire married life of 58 years. They loved to travel, especially to Islesboro, Maine, where they built a beloved vacation home which they enjoyed more than 25 years.

She was active in her church, First Presbyterian of Malden, where she had served in many ways. Her favorite Bible verse was Psalms 37:4, 'Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." She was a member of Lucy Jefferson Lewis Chapter of D.A.R. in New Madrid, Mo.

She loved classical music, old movies, time with family, caring for her home, and being in her kitchen. She struggled with bad health the last three years of her life, but tried to keep up her dignity and courage with the help of her husband and the faithful care of Shirley O'Dell of Malden, Mo.

Survivors include her husband; a sister, Annette Kemp Williamson Hayes of Russellville, Ky.; two sons, James L. Fletcher Jr. of Savannah, Ga., David Carter Fletcher of Alexandria, Va.; seven grandchildren, David Fletcher of Laurel, Md., Sarah Fletcher of Savannah, Abigail Fletcher of Nashville, Tenn., James Samuel Fletcher of Pensacola, Fla., Allison and Angela Fletcher of New Canaan, Conn., Emily and Lucy Fletcher of Ambler, Pa.; two great-grandchildren, Kate Ann Fletcher and Eliza Sinclair Fletcher of Laurel.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church in Malden, with the Rev. Bob Phillips officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens at Kennett, Mo.

Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden is in charge of arrangements.