Nathalie "Shirlene" Fletcher's Obituary
Nathalie “Shirlene” Fletcher, 85 years old, went to join her beloved husband in heaven on October 22, 2023. Shirlene was born on August 22, 1938 in Miami, FL. She was raised on a farm alongside her siblings in Lake City, FL. One Sunday after church, when Shirlene was a late teenager, she went for a riverside picnic with her sister Virginia and family friends at the Suwannee River. That day her life changed forever, she met her husband, Charles Terry Fletcher. They got married on April 12, 1959. Shortly after, Shirlene and Terry started a family and Shirlene supported Terry through medical school. They lived in Baltimore, MD for Terry’s medical school residency and then settled back in Gainesville, FL, where Dr. Fletcher opened his medical practice.
Shirlene and Terry were members of Parkview Baptist Church for over 50 years. Shirlene was a member of the Daisy Circle of the Gainesville Garden Club, served as a volunteer Pink Lady at Alachua General Hospital, Gainesville Woman’s Club and the Gainesville Ladies Medical Auxiliary. Shirlene owned a unique gift and decorating store in Thornebrook Village for many years, it was called 18 Pineapple Place. Above all, Shirlene was a homemaker and caregiver. Her greatest accomplishments included her marriage of 53 years, raising her three children, and caring for her grandchildren. Shirlene and Terry opened their home and served as caregivers for their parents when they became elderly, as well as members of the church. They shared a beautiful life together, with their three children and three grandchildren. They were married for 53 years before his passing in 2012. Shirlene was widowed for 11 years, so the family has found comfort knowing that she is back with her husband.
Terry nicknamed Shirlene “Cookie”, and she kept that name until her last day. Her grandchildren called her “Mimi”. Cookie spent the last 11 years of her life in assisted living facilities. The nurses and caregivers would always tell us how much they loved “Mrs. Cookie.” The family is forever grateful to all of those who cared for her, especially the staff of Hunters Crossing Place, Vitas Hospice and Charter Senior Living. Our sincere appreciation goes out to Danielle Chumack of Charter Senior Living who loved and cared for Cookie as if she were family intermittently over the years and most importantly over the last six months. Cookie was known for her sassy outward behavior. She was kind and loved to welcome the newcomers. She had a servant’s heart and was very caring towards others for all of her life.
She is survived by her children, Vicki Hayes (Calvin), Brian Fletcher (Karen), Miriam Fletcher (David Beggs); three sisters, Virginia Miles, Patricia Hudson, Freda Flamm; brother, Fred Vining Jr.; three grandchildren, Gaines Hayes, Sydney Fletcher LaCoste (Austin), Madelyn Grey Hunt (Austin) and great grandson, Liam Charles LaCoste.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles T. Fletcher M.D.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, November 1st at 11:00 AM at Williams Thomas Main Street. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Vitas Hospice, https://vitascommunityconnection.org/.
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