A legendary •gure of Smithers’
past, Allen Fletcher, passed
away on September 23, 2004 in
Kelowna. His loving companion,
Diane Blackett, was with him
as she has been for the past 20
years. Allen’s parents, Eli and
Laura Fletcher, moved to Smithers
from Washington in 1913 with
their oldest daughter, Doris. Allen
was born in Hazelton in 1918
while his brother Edison joined
the family in 1920. Both Doris and
Edison passed away in 2000. Al’s
wife, June Carpenter, sister to
Della Herman, and their son Ward
both predeceased Allen by many
years. Fletchers were well known
ranchers in the Driftwood area all
their lives. Al wore many hats over
his 86 years in the Bulkley Valley. He
was a conservation of•cer, an early
horse packer who carried supplies
to the Cronin Mine in the Babines,
a hunting guide, and a rancher.
Al’s famous goat from his guiding
days graces the intersection of
Highway 16 and Main Street. He
loved to join his many friends
at Schimmel’s for coffee and a
good gossip session before he
moved to Kelowna with Diane
Blackett in 1999. He is survived
by nieces, Wendy (Russell) Kwan,
Lois (Clarence) Haasjes, and Diane
(Bill) Cromer. His adopted family
of Alison Makowichuck and her
children Sydnee and Nickolas,
and Michelle (Keith) Goddard and
her children Garett, Mason, and
Konner will sorely miss “Grandpa
Al”. A memorial service will be
held at Driftwood Hall on Sunday,
October 17th at 2:00 p.m. Old
friends are invited to watch a slide
show, tell a story or two about
Allen Fletcher’s colourful life in
the Bulkley Valley, and say a fond
farewell.