Peggy Jean Fletcher
We are saddened to announce the passing of Peggy Fletcher, age 88, on August 20, 2026. She passed peacefully in her home due to complications of metastatic breast cancer and congestive heart failure. Her mind stayed sharp until the end. Peggy was very adamant that a formal service, celebration of life, or anything similar not be held. She wanted a private family gathering at the Glenwood Cemetery to bury her ashes next to our father, Mel. In keeping with her wishes, that is what we have done.
As her daughter, I am privileged to be able to reflect upon my mother’s life journey and share it with you. In classic Peggy style, she left a list, on recycled scrap paper with bullet points, to assist me in writing her obituary. This type of list is exactly what she would present when asking me to compose her yearly newsletter. Yep, I have been the actual author of said letter for the past decade or so. Number one on Peggy’s list: “known to be frugal, a recycler, and an organized individual”. No one can argue with that. Her organizational and Depression- era recycling skills rivaled any challenger. She kept a clean home and meticulous records, including detailed calendars dating back to 1966.
Peggy was the eldest of three sisters, coming from strong German and French-Canadian ancestry. She was raised in Denver, Colorado, excelled in history and geography, and quickly developed a passion for travel. The first trip she took was with her grandparents by train to Missouri. The second was a car trip to Canada to visit her mother’s family. This was how her precious souvenir spoon collection began. After graduating from South High School in Denver, she attended both Colorado State and the University of Colorado before accepting a job with Western Airlines. She drove a little light blue Corvair and wore extreme cat-eye-style glasses, as was the fashion in the early 1960’s. She was a beautiful woman who could have stepped out of any cigarette advertisement of the day.
While working as a stewardess, she served coffee to Sammy Davis Jr., asked Louis Armstrong to buckle up, and passed out peanuts to a 9-year-old Natalie Cole and her father. She even told a story about the time she and her fellow stewardesses had to capture a rogue bat mid-flight and keep it contained until landing, all while keeping the passengers from finding out. Apparently, the pilots were of no help. Her flight benefits gave her the chance to take her parents on several trips to Europe, experiences that brought her great joy. Western Airlines eventually stationed her in Salt Lake City, where her roommate set her up on a blind date with a nice fellow from Park City.
She met Mel Fletcher in 1963 at the Kimball Junction Café, and their story began. They were married for 46 years, until Mel’s death in June 2010. During this time, she cared for her mother-in-law, Blanche, and raised two children, Rex Fletcher (Linda) and Jillbette Fletcher Gordon (Michael). Rex and Linda gave her two grandchildren, Teagan Larsen (Erik) and Trey Fletcher; Jillbette gave her two more, Jackson Kelly and Roscoe Kelly.
Apart from being a full-time caregiver and mother of two, she committed herself to never-ending civic activities. She quietly contributed much time and effort to our little town, including helping to run Well Baby and school vaccination clinics alongside Jane Kimball. She was active in the PTA, served as district president for the American Cancer Association, enjoyed Dance Club with Mel, served on the Auxiliary Fire Department, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the original Kimball Art Guild. She also spent years alongside Betty Watts serving as an election judge.
Although she was a homemaker, she also worked as a substitute lunch lady for the Park City School District and 20 + years as a fill-in dental assistant for Dr. Pam Hilbert. After my grandmother, Blanche, died in 1980, Peggy and my father were instrumental in re-establishing the Glenwood Cemetery Board. She served on the Board until the management duties were handed over to the Park City Museum and Historical Society. Peggy more recently served as board member for Park City Senior Citizens. She also holds the title Matriarch of White Pine Court.
Since those early family vacations, Peggy managed to travel to well over 60 countries, 46 states, and all seven continents, most more than once. During her travels she collected around 110 souvenir spoons, which I will proudly display in my home somewhere, somehow. She never wanted to travel anyplace she had already visited. This requirement made it exceedingly difficult to plan trips for her as the years went on. I had the privilege of being her travel agent, sherpa, interpreter, guardian, and travel companion. We experienced varying cultures, beliefs, and foods while traveling the far corners of the earth together, all the while schlepping her precious purse through airports, jungles, deserts, and crowded city centers. There were countless “hold my purse” moments.
Peggy’s travels took her into unforgettable encounters with wildlife and wild places. She rode elephants in India, walked baby tigers in Thailand, ran from a wild tapir in the Amazon Jungle, and rode zodiacs between islands to see flocks of penguins. She drove alongside herds of elephants, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and prides of lions in Kenya and Tanzania, and she laughed with the blue-footed boobies of the Galápagos. She was just as bold when the adventure required a little courage. She paraglided in Nepal, and, at age 86, ziplined great distances not once, but twice while in Costa Rica. She sailed every ocean and many other large bodies of water, swam with dolphins, octopuses, and car-sized manta rays. She posed for pictures with the Komodo Dragons, had large snakes draped over her shoulders and even went fishing for piranha. Whenever Peggy traveled, she was always ready for the next adventure, with that determined smile fixed firmly on her face.
Our precious time together didn’t stop when we got home from our travels. Rex and I had daily phone calls with her. She kept us fully informed of “all things Peggy.” She enjoyed recapping the happenings at the Senior Center, her cul-de-sac, gossip from the Sunday coffee group, and the weekly Denver family phone calls. Her social calendar was always full, and she never ran out of “paperwork” to keep her busy at home. Between writing random lists of things, I have yet to understand, Peggy worked on jigsaw puzzles, completed daily crossword puzzles, and never missed an episode of Jeopardy.
My brother and I thank you all for your thoughts and comforting words after her passing. Rex and I have shared some of her remains with our family in Denver and several close friends who have plans of their own to celebrate Peggy. She was loved, cherished, and well looked after by those closest to her. We truly appreciate the love shown to our mother. Peggy will be missed and never forgotten.