- Date Of Birth: May 17, 1932
- Date Of Death: September 22, 2008
- State: New Mexico
Elmer James Fletch Fletcher, 76 of Hobbs, New Mexico, passed away peacefully at his home Monday morning, September 22, surrounded by his loving family. He was born to Tracy and Teda Patton Fletcher in Royalton, McGoffin County Kentucky, May 17, 1932. He went to the arms of his Lord, Savior and friend after a courageous two year battle with illness. Fletch was a member of Temple Baptist Church.
Fletch grew up in several different towns in Ohio, and was member of the first graduatshy;ing class of newly consolidated Cory-Rawson High School between Rawson and Mt. Cory, Ohio. He was an athlete in high school, served as the vice president of his senior class, and graduated in 1950. He married the love of his life, Mary Lou Hawkes, in 1954, in Pyote, Texas. They recently celectrated 55 years together, with their 55th wedding anniversary approaching in March. He served the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955 in San Antonio and Pyote, Texas, where he met and married Mary Lou, a schoolteacher. After discharge from the A ir Force, they moved to Ohio where their only son was born, but soon transplanted to Midland, Texas, to be near Mary Lou’s family. They remained in Midland until 1962, when Fletch’s new employer, Northern Natural Gas Co., transferred him to their Hobbs plant. He remained employed with the company for a total of 32 years, retiring in 1989 from Enron Corporation, one of many name changes that occurred for Northern Natural Gas through the years.
Fletch was an avid sports fan, to say the least. He would travel many miles to watch teams play a game, it didn’t matter what sport, not knowing any players or having any connecshy;tion to either team, but only because of his love for the game. He became even more a fan when his son began to play Little League, midget football, junior high football and basketball, and high school baseball. However, his greatest joy was seeing his grand daughters become athletes, watching them excel in volleyshy;ball, basketball, and particushy;rly fast pitch softball. He took great pride in the fact that his 20-yearold grandson, Tyler, alreadv has two years’ expericnce as a video technishy;an in the movie industry, and is currently working as a video operator on a new television series being filmed in Albuquerque. For over 45 years, Fletch has been a loyal fan and supporter of his three favorite teams: the Hobbs Eagles, the Texas Tech Red Raiders and, first and foremost, his beloved Houston Astros.
Surviving Fletch is his loving wife of 54 years, Mary Lou; their only son, Jamie Fletcher and his wife Jan of Hobbs; and their grandchildren, Angela and Jared Sloan of Hobbs, Amanda Serna of Hobbs, and Tyler Fletcher of Albuquerque; also two greatgrandchildren, Sylas Serna and Lillian Sloan, both of Hobbs. Fletch was also joyfully anticipating the arrival of his third greatgrandchild in January, Luci Sloan.
Survivors also include three sisters, Jeanne Smith of Shreve, Ohio, Della Newland of Ada, Ohio, and Ruth Fletcher of Lima, Ohio; two sisters-inshy;-law, Maydelle Winkler of Midland, Texas, and Linda Horton of Edmond, Oklahoma; two brothers-in-law, Mark Horton and wife Esther of Midland, Texas, and Bob Newland of Ada, Ohio. Fletch is also sur vived by other nieces and nephews, and many good friends acquired from his Air Force days, and his many years with Northern Natural Gas. He will surely miss havshy;ing his coffee and discussing the daily agenda with all the retired Board Members at Albertson’s each morning.
Preceding Fletch in death were his parents, Tracy and Teda Fletcher; two brothers, Paul Fletcher and Wayne Fletcher: and two brothers-in-shy;law, James Horton and Jerry Smith.
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Service
Memorial Service
Temple Baptist
1113 N Grimes
Hobbs, NM 88240
Saturday, September 27, 2008
2:00 p.m., Saturday
Memorial Contributions
Star Hospice
1601 N. Turner, Ste. 520
Hobbs, NM 88240
Bldg. Fund, Temple Baptist Church
1113 N. Grimes
Hobbs, NM 88240
