Gloria Jean Fletcher

Mrs. Gloria Jean Fletcher, age 70, of Kennesaw, Georgia died on Sunday, September 18, 2011. A Memorial Service will be held 2 pm Friday, September 23, 2011 at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home in Kennesaw, Georgia. Rev. Larry Ragan will officiate.

Mrs. Fletcher was born in Springfield, IL. She worked most of her career in accounting for State Farm Insurance Company. Her most enjoyable times were spent on the ball fields, cheering and scorekeeping for her children and grandchildren’s teams. Gloria was an avid sports fan – everyone knew better than to call while the NFL or a Braves game was on TV. It also made her very happy to feed people, whether it was baking desserts or cooking meals for friends and family. Other activities that brought her pleasure include reading, crossword puzzles, playing Trivial Pursuit and watching movies. She was generous and kind and loved by many. She was preceded in death by her husband James Donald Fletcher, Sr. and brother Jesse Meredith.

Survivors:

Daughters – Jill Darr of Acworth, GA and Joan Fletcher of Portland, OR

Son – James “Chip” Fletcher of Columbia, SC

Brother – James Meredith of Chatham, IL

3 sisters – Virginia McGillivray of Springfield, IL; Kathy Lynn of Springfield, IL; Shirley Meredith of Winter Haven, FL

3 grandchildren – Matthew Hunter Darr; Joshua Fisher Darr; Jordan Leigh Adams

LIFE STORY:

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Gloria Jean Fletcher who was indeed a born manager. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Gloria was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Gloria knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.

Gloria was born on September 15, 1941 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, IL. Her parents were Jesse and Mildred "Millie" Meredith. Gloria was raised in Springfield, IL. Even as a youngster, Gloria learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Gloria was able to put her natural abilities to work. She was a bit like the director and moral compass of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, she liked to organize and direct. Gloria was raised with five siblings. She had 3 sisters, two brothers and she was the oldest. Gloria had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Gloria, this was a natural order of life, one she gladly embraced.

Gloria's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during her childhood. As a young girl, Gloria enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Gloria took part in softball. In her spare time she liked horseback riding, painting by numbers and drawing.

In school, Gloria was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of her classes. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Gloria was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Gloria’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” She graduated from High school in Springfield, IL in 1961. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was history and english. She was on senior (class of '61) prom court.

Gloria was sociable and approachable. Because she was always so straightforward in how she approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. She enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Gloria was a member of a group, her interaction worked to keep the others grounded. She wasn’t afraid to confront her friends and, when necessary, she challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Gloria came to expect her high standards of performance. While growing up, some of her best friends were Jeri Howard, Judy Hay, Farrell Bolt, and Sandy Applegate. Later in life, she became friends with Mardell Wilson, Hays Bishop and Susan Bateman.

An objective and conscientious individual, Gloria reveled in the security of her family. On February 29, 1964 Gloria exchanged wedding vows with James Donald Fletcher at the Trinity Lutheran Church of Springfield, IL. One of Gloria’s most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.

Gloria was ever watchful of her children. She worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. She maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Gloria would give her stamp of approval to their requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her children were properly raised. Gloria was blessed with three children, Jill, Joan and James (Chip). They were also blessed with three grandchildren, Matthew Darr, Joshua Darr, and Jordan Adams.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Gloria was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Gloria was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Gloria upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was as a bookkeeper and in accounting. She was employed for 18 years with State Farm Insurance Company. Gloria was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Gloria approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were reading, crossword puzzles, baking, cooking, watching and keeping score for children and grandchildren's baseball games. She enjoyed Braves baseball and NFL football on TV. Gloria was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Gloria to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. Recreational sports included bowling and roller skating. She also was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were grandson's baseball, NFL football and MLB baseball.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Gloria used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Gloria had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included St. Louis to see live jazz with her husband Jim in her earlier years and taking the kids to Lake of the Ozarks. She liked to vacation anywhere with a beach or to visit family.

When Gloria’s retirement finally arrived in 2006, she was well prepared. She used her critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. Her new life involved relocating to Kennesaw, Georgia from Winter Haven, Florida to be near grandchildren. In retirement, she found new pleasure in relaxing and baking. In many ways, Gloria loved retirement. It provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Gloria passed away on September 18, 2011 at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. Gloria had a sudden respiratory infection related to recently discovered circulation issues. She is survived by her three children Jill, Joan, Chip, grandchildren Matt, Josh, Jordan, brother Jim, three sisters Ginny, Kathy, and Shirley. Services were held at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home in Kennesaw, Georgia. Gloria was laid to rest in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida along with her husband who precessed her in death Jim Fletcher.

All who knew her would agree that Gloria was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Gloria Jean Fletcher did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.