Cecil Fletcher, 89, of Johnston City, Illinois died Monday, October 22, 2001 in Marion Memorial Hospital in Marion. Funeral services at Murman & Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City with Reverend Larry Stevens and Reverend Rich Herrin officiating. Burial in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.

Mr. Fletcher was born on October 19, 1912 in Williamson County, the son of John and Etta (Logan) Fletcher.

He graduated from Johnston City High School in 1931 as one of its top athletes; he was on the 1929 State Basketball Championship team and on the 1931 basketball team that finished 4th. He then went on to Illinois College in Jacksonville from 1935-1939 where he played football and basketball, and was on the Little 19 Conference Basketball Championship team 1934-35. Mr. Fletcher played for coach LaRue VanMeter both in high school and college. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame as a player. He coached at Patoka then went to Olney where he retired as a school teacher and coach, having the Cecil Fletcher Relays named after him. He was a veteran of World War II, serving four years in the Navy as an Ensign First Class. He was a member of American Legion and a member of the Baptist faith. He retired to Johnston City in 1985.

Mr. Fletcher is survived by a daughter, Suzanne Payne and her husband, William, of Lake of Egypt; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Vergil Fletcher and his wife, Violet of Collinsville and Jack Fletcher and his wife, Pat of Marion; five sisters, Helen Baker of Marion, Audra Brown of Johnston City, Rose Mitchell and her husband, Delmer of Johnston City, Marian Mauzy and her husband, Ken of Johnston City and Ruby Kay Bozarth of Murphysboro and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers-in-law, Carl Brown, John Baker and Ernest Bozarth and one nephew, Tommy Baker.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)