Gene Fletcher

On November 28, 2021, Eugene Quentin Fletcher, “Gene,” of Paradise (Smithville), Missouri, passed away at the age of 59. Gene was born on May 6, 1962 in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Polo High School in Polo, Missouri in 1980 and entered the United States Navy. 

He met and married Cindy Ritter while both were in the Navy and together, they had four daughters. Later he met Cathy Margarita while both worked at Worlds of Fun; they married and had three children. 

Gene was predeceased by his daughters Lorissa Lynn Fletcher and Emilia Teresa Fletcher and his parents, George Fletcher and Barbara Lopez. He is survived by his children, Stephanie Marie Reed (Cassidy), Drucilla Rae Farrell (Jonathan), Trulea Danielle Fletcher (Logan Spangler), Michael George Fletcher, and Nathan Eugene Fletcher; grandchildren, Camry, Kaycie, Caylee, Kyla, Brody, Brett, and Finley; and siblings, Debi Byers-Flahive, Kenny Bailey, Chandra Lamb, Christine Quirk, Belenda Bailey, Misty Taylor, and Bob Bailey.

Gene was a jack of all trades and a master of many. He was proud of his Navy service. He rose through the ranks passing tests quickly that took others several tries. He earned his AHM 2 rating (aviation hydraulic mechanic) and worked on anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft, in particular P-3s. He was a hustler, a go-getter and a hard worker his entire life, starting with his first paper route as a boy in old Northeast Kansas City and ending with his acquisition two years ago of Kansas City’s 43-year-old Thrifty Nickel franchise. In between he enjoyed working in a variety of mechanical and construction jobs and entrepreneurial endeavors. He was proud that he was able to save the Thrifty Nickel from closing its doors in early 2020, sustaining it through the pandemic, and transitioning it to an independent community paper, The Nickel News & Classifieds, featuring weekly articles and other editorial content. In the last year he had begun to take up the pen more frequently himself. He enjoyed folksy articles about a variety of topics, including causes that were important to him such as homelessness and helping neighbors in need, and his main hobbies, gardening and fishing. 

His warm smile and charming demeanor belied a somewhat quiet and shy nature. He was a storyteller and a spin-master. He was always picking up scrap and collecting it to recycle and sell, and it’s possible that at least one friend had the Theme from Sanford & Son as his assigned ringtone. He enjoyed volunteering as a parent baseball coach, assisting with Boy Scout outings, and for the last year volunteered time helping with grounds maintenance and special events at the Smithville Memorial Cemetery.

A memorial service for Gene will be held at a later date.