Brian Alan Fletcher

At 9:05am on October 10, 2024, Brian Alan Fletcher lost his long-fought battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was a kind and loving man, and a friend to all who knew him. He was easy to love and hard to forget. 

Brian was born September 29, 1969 in Benton, IL with a twin sister, Beth. They were a surprise to the doctor and their parents, alike. Only Brian's heartbeat had been heard, but the family was doubly blessed when they arrived.

Brian grew up in the country on the family farm and developed a love for camping, fishing, and hunting. He loved to make and build things.  He enjoyed music and dancing. In grade school, he started playing the trombone and played from 5th grade all through his senior year at Johnson City High School, where he was a member of the Class of '87. But his real love was the guitar. He started playing in his early teens and never stopped. If he wasn't playing music, he was dancing and was especially good at doing "The Worm" dance move.

In 1991, Brian married Cynthia West of West Frankfort. In 1992, after the birth of their son, Cory, Brian enlisted in the United States Navy. He lived and trained in Pensacola, Florida before the Navy sent him and his family to his station in Japan in 1994. He would spend 6 months out to sea on the USS O'Brien, a destroyer class ship, and 6 months back in Japan with his family. Brian worked as an ET1 as electronics technician aboard the USS O'Brien DD-975, a Spruance-class destroyer in Yokosuka, Japan. At one point in his career, his ship accompanied the USS Enterprise CVN-65. He was humble about his time in the military, but he was deeply proud of his time served. In 1998, Brian and his family moved to California where Brian continued his career with the Department of Defense working in Ground Electronics at the Naval Air Station Lemoore.

In 2006, with the passing of his wife, Brian immediately became the sole parent to his 14 year old son. He stepped up to the role and, through patience and love, raised a kind, intelligent and loving man. About his father, Cory said, "He became my best friend." Brian shared his love of music with Cory. They went to more concerts than either could count. They loved going to Comic Cons together. Brian was fearless when it came to trying things. He could do anything, make anything, he set his mind to. This talent he got from his parents and passed it on to his son.

And in 2008, Brian was introduced to a former co-worker of his sister's, Mary Owens. For 16 years, they were true partners. They were different, but the same. They complemented each other well. They both loved music, reading, movies, and travel and shared many wonderful experiences in their time together. In 2011, Brian left the DOD and went to work for the Federal Aviation Administration as an Airway Transportation Systems Specialist in the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Indianapolis, IN, again working in electronics and communications. He was a union rep for PASS. In moving back to the Midwest to be closer to his family and Mary, he was able to see them more often and it was a blessing to us all. In April, 2024, Brian married Mary, who survives.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father, Donald Fletcher, his two brothers, Patrick and Michael Fletcher, his sister-in-law, Shirley Fletcher, and his granddaughter, Brynlee Owens.

In addition to his wife, Brian is survived by his son, Cory (Sandra) Fletcher, his mother, Margaret Fletcher, his twin sister, Beth (Pat) Bond, his bonus son, Joseph (Stephanie) Owens, and his granddaughter Kinsley Owens, and his best friend Wade (Karin) Wece. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, and numerous friends. All of us will miss him greatly.

Funeral services for Brian Alan Fletcher will be held at 1 PM, Saturday, October 19, 2024 at Stricklin Funeral Home in Harrisburg. Immediately following his service, Military Honors will be conducted by the United States Navy, American Legion, Sons of the American Legion and Veteran’s of Foreign Wars. Visitation will be held from 11 AM to 1 PM, Saturday, October 19, 2024 at Stricklin Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or Tunnel to Towers and will be received at the funeral home.  

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