Carol Anne Fletcher Born October 27, 1946, in Philadelphia, Carol joined the brother she loved and missed so much, “Butch”, in heaven on June 7, 2014, less than two weeks after celebrating 50 years of marriage and romance with her husband, Lyn, on May 25.
That romance started one day in Philadelphia when Lyn was spinning records for the majorette and specialized baton group, the “Phillyettes”. This particular day, Carol was twirling her batons to the Chordettes’ “Lollipop”. It was the first time he had ever laid eyes upon her and it was truly love at first sight. Lyn was hooked, and the two of them were inseparable from that time forward. Carol would forever be “Gams” for her great legs, and they were married May 25 1964 in Elkton, Maryland, in an extravagant 10 dollar ceremony that included a preacher, two women crying and rice throwing. Lyn was 18, Carol was 17. Their son, Gary, would arrive four (yes, that’s 4) months later. Indeed, it was a Teenage wedding…….C’est la vie say the old folks…….it goes to show you never can tell. Carol and Lyn defied the odds and built a life together, moving from Philadelphia to Tucson in 1976, flying their own single engine Piper across country to do so. Soon thereafter Carol would embark on her mission as a mentor to dozens of Tucson Teens, employing them in her two Tucson Dairy Queen stores, teaching them the value of hard work and becoming a Second Mom to many of her “girls” during their most formative teen years. Along the way she would develop her love of animals……dogs, cats and Arabian horses that she enjoyed showing. Five feet in heels, she feared nothing and her life with Lyn was an adventure. She drove her Jeep and 4X4 trucks, loved to ski, learned to drive Formula Ford Racing cars, pilot airplanes, and sail boats. She traveled the world with Lyn. Carol was equally strong as she was quiet. She could communicate as effectively with her hazel green eyes as with any words. She was always in charge…..”Sarge” to some.
She started life as a devoted daughter to her mom, Laura Pickersgill, and granddaughter to Laura Hart, and ended life as a beloved grandmother herself. The impact and inspiration “Granmere” had on her granddaughter, Alyssa (“Syssa”), and grandsons, Nick and Jack, is immeasurable. If Carol wanted anything, it was no doubt to take one more trip to Disneyland with Alyssa, Nick and Jack, and more time to see Alyssa and Jacelyn fulfill their dreams at AAU in San Francisco, to see what adventures Nick pursues after high school and to see Jack grow from his amazing start……..at some level, they WERE her life. Although she was Grandma, she never once referred to them as anything other than “her kids”. True to form, she was Granmere to others as well, particularly Taylor Ann Swift. Having lost her brother at far too early an age, Butch’s son, Rich Pickersgill, held a special place in Carol’s heart, as a carbon copy of Butch. Carol’s sisterhood with younger sister Nancy Nardino (“Nan”) was among the most treasured of her relationships…..their frequent, lengthy, conversations, cannot be replaced.
Carol leaves behind two guys, husband Lyn, and son, Gary, who are a bit lost, but are comforted by the fact that Carol suffers no more. As with everything else, Carol faced the difficult news of her illness head-on and fought hard, with Lyn by her side, where he had been for 50 years and where he remained untiringly for the duration of the battle, holding Carol’s hand until it came time to let her hold out her hand and touch the face of God.
In addition to Lyn and Gary, among the many others who survive Carol with broken hearts are Carol’s sister, Nan, Nan’s daughter Nancy and son Joe, Carol’s sister Pat and her sons Richie and Kevin, Nephew and Niece, Rich and Jeanne Pickersgill and their sons Taylor and Daulton, Carol’s daughter in law, Jenny Fletcher(among Carol’s best friends in her final years), daughter in law Maria Fletcher (whose help during Carol’s illness was invaluable), Tricia Swift (among the “Granmere” crowd), and “like a son” Greg Burton. Friends and lives she touched are too numerous to list. The pain on Earth is great. In Heaven, Angels are taking a crash course from the lady who wrote the manual on being an Angel. You were my best friend, Mom.
Graveside service 9am June 20, 2014, East Lawn Palms Cemetery, 5801 East Grant Road, Tucson, Arizona 85712. Memorial Service honoring Carol’s life 11am June 20, 2014, St Pauls United Methodist Church, 8051 E. Broadway, Tucson, Arizona 85710. Luncheon Reception following Memorial. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be directed to Casa de los Ninos, 1101 N. 4th Ave, Tucson, Arizona 85705.