Mary Lou Fletcher, of Stockbridge, MI, age 85, passed away on August 28th, 2024 at Chelsea Hospital. She was born on August 27th, 1939, in Sublett, Kentucky, the daughter of Western and Sis (Montgomery) Allen.
As a child, Mary Lou and her family moved from Kentucky to Chelsea. On October 31st, 1959, she married Willard Fletcher, and they resided in Stockbridge for 36 wonderful years until his passing on September 9th,1995.
Mary Lou held various jobs throughout her life, including positions at Jiffy Mix, the local movie theater, and the hardware store all in Chelsea, as well as the Speedway gas station in Stockbridge that she and Willard owned for several years. She also worked as a cook for Stockbridge Community Schools. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Stockbridge for approximately 60 years, where she started the church's quilting club, donating everything from material to thread.
Mary Lou loved gardening, mushroom hunting, and many people enjoyed her delicious Southern cooking. However, her greatest joy came from her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, always finding time to attend every sporting event for her family and friends.
She will be dearly missed by her three daughters, Linda (Dennis) Petsch of Stockbridge, Lisa (Kurt) Knisely of Stockbridge, and Jennifer (Tim-deceased) Schilz of Pinckney; two grandchildren, CJ (Jackie) Lewis, and Emily (Mike) Hoard; and one great-grandson, Benjamin Carl Lewis; four sisters, Molly Sue (Luke) Collinsworth of Chelsea, Nellie (Beacher-deceased), Patrick of Jackson, Joyce (Ron) Watkins of Hillsdale, and Theda (Mike) Dyer of Lansing; several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and distant relatives; as well as two children she babysat that she thought of as her own, Sarah and Matthew Ford; and her wonderful caretakers, Bill and Patrisha LeMaster. The family also wishes to thank Bradford Howard and Katherine Smarch for their efforts.
In addition to her husband, Willard, Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Western and Sis Allen, a son, Bobby Jo Fletcher, a sister, Phyllis (Emerson-still living) Marshall, a brother, "Buck" (Linda-still living) Allen; two infant sisters, Pauletta and Gladys Allen, and her sister-in-law, Sandy Allen.
Visitation will be held at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge, on Saturday, August 31st, 2024 from 4-6 p.m., as well as on Sunday, September 1st, 2024 from 1-2 p.m.
Funeral Services will be held at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Sunday, September 1st, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. with Larrel Whitaker officiating. Burial will be private at Oaklawn Cemetery in Stockbridge, MI.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o Jennifer Schilz.
