Shirley Gardner Fletcher

June 21, 1927

April 27, 2018

Services celebrating the life of Shirley Gardner Fletcher, age 90 will be held 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at the St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church.  The chapel is located behind Fletcher’s Books & Antiques at 945 N. Main St. in Salado.  The Rev. Bob Bliss will officiate. 

  Shirley died April 27, 2018, peacefully at her home.  She was born June 21, 1927 in West Jordan, Utah to parents, Vernal G. Gardner and Harriet Riggs Gardner.  She was the youngest of five siblings and attended the University of Utah.  Shirley has been a permanent resident of Salado since 2005.  She was a member of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church. 

  Shirley was a daughter of the Greatest Generation.  She was a military wife.  Her husband, Dr. Desmond Wilkerson was killed on a medical rescue mission during the Korean War.  On a sojourn to Vienna, Austria visiting her sister with her oldest son Desmond, she met Capt. Tyler H Fletcher.  They married, traveled the world, endured tours of duty in Korea and Vietnam and had four additional children. Shirley was a professional homemaker, artist, and restorer of antique porcelain.  She loved antiques, the fine arts, and entertaining. 

  Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Desmond Roy Wilkerson, and her son, Leslie Rawls Fletcher.  She is survived by her children, Desmond W. and Stacey Fletcher of Hattiesburg, MS, Hugh H. and Jane Fletcher of Tuscon, AZ, Dr. Gardner L. and Carol Fletcher of Hattiesburg, MS, Tyler R. Fletcher of Salado, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. 

  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 881 N. Main St., Salado, TX 76571.  Arrangements are being handled by Broecker Funeral of Salado.

(Paid obituary)