James Fletcher, 78, of Centralia passed away Sunday, July 24, 2022, at St. Louis University Hospital. James served his country with pride in the United States Airforce as a DAV commander in Centralia. He was a member of the Salem American Legion Post 128. James was a self-sufficient, handyman who could build, and repair just about anything. He owned his own business where he took pride in doing the best job possible for the homeowners that hired him. He worked for Jim Adams in Centralia for over 25 years. He was a member of the Central City Baptist Church and attended Salem Lutheran Church. James had a passion for the sport of basketball, playing on the Blue Devils Basketball team for Kaskaskia College from 1963-1964. He took away many great memories and life lessons of the importance of being a team player and going the extra mile to work with others. James was hard working, supportive, intelligent, kind, and loved acting silly. He above all felt blessed to be the best grandpa to all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His passing will leave a void, but his life’s legacy will live on in everyone he knew and loved.
A celebration of life service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2022, at the Salem Lutheran Church with Pastor Mike Feldmann officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in rural Sandoval, where military rite will be accorded by the Centralia VFW Post 2055 American Legion Post 446. Friends and relatives are welcome to a visitation time from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in James’ honor to Disabled American Veteran in Centralia or Salem Lutheran Church. Online condolences and memories of James may be shared with the family by visiting www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.
Along with his devoted wife of 26 years, James is survived by his beloved family, children James (Donna) Fletcher of Irvington, and Timothy Fletcher of Centralia, Kimberly Fletcher Schweda of Centralia; step-children Catherine (Jock) Irvine of Houston, Texas, and Anthony (Tracy) Dietz; grandchildren Brandon Fletcher, Justine Fletcher and special friend Varrick Davis, Noah Fletcher, Zach Mifflin, Blake Phillips, Connor Fletcher, Kelsey Fletcher, Kaylee (Blake) Finney, Anthony Schweda and fiancée Hannah Reynolds, Gary Evans Jr.; step-grandchildren Marielle Sullivan, Maxwell Dietz, Nathanial Dietz, Eleanor Dietz; great-grandchildren Kingston, Ellie, Grayson, June, Zayden, Brettlyn, Ryelin, Bri, Vjay, Kierstyn, Addyson, Korbin, Cohen, Maibree, Deliliah, Maverick; step-great-grandchildren Demetrius, and Emberly; brother William Fletcher; sisters Velma White, Lorene Patterson, Pauline Matheney, Josephine (Chuck) Walters; brother-in-law Glen Simpson; sisters-in-law Etta Fletcher, Erma (Dennis) Gibson, Cecelia (Larry) Wagner, and Gayla (Gary) Davenport; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
He was born on March 19, 1944, the son of Charles and Lillias Mae (Pinkerton) Fletcher in Hillsboro. He married the mother of his children, Marilyn Piercy in 1968 and they later divorced. He married Cora Lee Dietz on June 6, 1996, in Arizona and she survives him in Salem. James was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Lillias Fletcher; sisters Maxine Simpson, Thelma (Carl) Futrell, Angie (Les) Moulder, and Darlene Parks; brother Roy Fletcher; brothers-in-law Frank Matheney, Ray White, and Marvin Harrelson; grandson Quintin Fletcher.
