Fletcher Herschel Powers, age 87, of Umatilla, FL, passed away on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at Cornerstone Hospice House of Tavares.
He was born on April 26, 1936, in Umatilla, FL, on the family dairy farm, the second child of the late Charles Herschel and Orah Powers. At the age of 6, he began working alongside his dad delivering milk for Powers’ Dairy, which, as he liked to tell it, often made him late to school with wet shoes! After graduating from Umatilla High School in 1954, he began his life-long career operating the dairy farm with his dad and brother.
Though he had a brief career in the logging business, dairy farming was his true passion. In 1990, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of owning his own farm by buying a property in Patterson, GA, where he raised beef cattle and grew corn. After retiring in 1998, Fletcher and his wife Shirley enjoyed traveling the country visiting friends and relatives. A life-long Christian, Fletcher most recently attended Altoona Methodist Church.
He is predeceased by his parents; his sister, Doris Bronson, his first love Shirley Powers, and grandson Tyler Bryan. Fletcher is survived by Dorene Powers, brother, L. Hughes Powers of Umatilla, FL; daughter Melanie (Robbie Caldwell) Bryan of Umatilla, FL; sons Michael (Joy) Powers of Umatilla, FL, Kevin Powers of Umatilla, FL, and Timothy (Mandy) Powers of Patterson, GA. He leaves 13 grandchildren: William, Brian, Lindsey, Aimee, Ryan, Chandler, David, Molly, Kiana, Carson, Makala, Timmy, and Annie as well as 13 great-grandchildren.
Services for Fletcher will be held at First Baptist Church Umatilla, On Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Lakeside Memory Gardens, Eustis. The family will receive friends and loved ones at the church prior to the service from 11:30 AM-1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 3278.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the caring staffs at Pendry Estate LLC in Eustis, FL, and Cornerstone Hospice House.
