JT Fletcher, Sr. 82, of Abilene, Texas was called up to his heavenly home on Thursday, October 23, 2014. The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 26, 2014 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at North's Memorial Chapel, 242 Orange Street. Graveside Services will be held at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery on Monday, October 27, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., under the direction of North's Funeral Home. Mr. Fletcher was born on April 6, 1932 in Rule, Texas. His family moved to Aruba in 1942 where his father worked for Lago Oil Company until the Germans tried to bomb the refinery and the American families were moved back to the states. The family settled in Greenland, Arkansas on eighty acres of land on the White River across from Fayetteville, Arkansas. He and his brothers enjoyed fishing, swimming and hunting on their land. In the fall of 1945 their mother chose to move back to the warmer weather in Texas. JT graduated from Abilene High School in 1950 where he took vocational machine shop under George Karwer. He, Rex Bradley and JT Ball ventured to Houston and California to work and then back to Abilene. By then George Karnwer had put in a machine shop and JT was hired by Mr. Karwer and worked for him for fifty four years. JT was inducted into the United States Army on November 24, 1954 and was stationed in Ft. Hood, Texas. He received the Sharpshooter (rifle) and Good Conduct medals. He attended Hardin-Simmons University and graduated on May 8, 1960. He met the love of his life, Shirley Klassen in 1958 and was married on June 3, 1960, right after graduating. They have a daughter, Jackie Ann Lapino of Cary, North Carolina and son JT, Jr., of Bryan, Texas. They have eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, which were their pride and joy. JT managed Oil Well Machine and Tool in San Angelo until it was sold to Pool Co. He designed and installed machines and trained workers for David Campbell in San Angelo. Afterwards Mr. Karwer called him to come back to KMW and be in charge of manufacturing and the "Cast Iron Crew."JT was instrumental in building the Tipp-o-Matic for basketball practice for Nat Gleaton, also a skid-mounted oil well clean out unit that was sold to Kuwait, and he designed and built an automatic Petri dish dispenser for Rex Bradley who owned Austin Biological Laboratory. Then he and Abilene Glass built a twelve-foot inverted Tiffany lamp shade that hung from a thirty-foot ceiling for a New York investor for Austin Art Galleries. He was an engineered craftsman in metal and woodwork. He loved working with his hands and could make anything. He made stainless steel with inlaid brass candlesticks for family and friends. JT loved every day to the fullest, always happy. He enjoyed his grandchildren, gardening, fishing, hunting, golf and tennis. He was a certified USTA Tennis line judge and was called to judge at the US Open in New York. He and his wife travelled Germany, France, Switzerland and Hawaii. His last work was at Petro Smith Pipe, Abilene and loved all his co-workers. JT loved people and never judged anyone. He could talk to the poorest and to the richest. He always had a funny story to tell. One of his great accomplishments was when he was baptized an ordained deacon by Pastor Wayne Hinezes, in Elm Creek by the family place in Elm Valley. He was preceded in death by his parents, Estelle and Clyde Fletcher. He was loved by everyone he knew. We will miss you! Online condolences may be made at www.northsfuneral home.com