M. Fletcher Gornall

M. Fletcher Gornall, Esq., age 92, of Erie, passed away peacefully at his residence on Wednesday, December 2, 2015. The son of the late Merle F. and Madeline Kellie Gornall and grandson of Rev. Oliver W. and Phoebe Lamb Gornall, and William N. and Clara Moran Kellie, Fletcher was born on March 25, 1923 in Erie, Pennsylvania.

On September 11, 1943, while training as an Air Force Aviation Cadet in Union City, Tennessee, Fletcher and Elsie Offner were married. He was a graduate of East High, Gannon College and in 1950, the Dickinson School of Law. During World War II, he served in the United States Air Force as a single engine pilot, and was discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant.

He was a lifelong member of the Erie County, Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations. He served as President of the Erie County Bar Association in 1970-71 and was elected its Chancellor in 1988. From 1981 to 1984, he served as a Governor of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and for 20 years as a member of its House of Delegates. He was a founding incorporator, Life Fellow and former member of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation. In 1999, the Pennsylvania Bar honored him with its Gilbert A. Nurick Achievement Award for distinguished service to the bar and community.

In 1980, he conceptualized and organized the Penn Attorneys Title Insurance Company for the benefit of the Erie County Bar Assoc. real estate lawyers.

Active throughout his life as a member of the First United Methodist Church in Erie, he served as chairman of its Board of Trustees, Administrative Board, Foundation and Schaufler Funds.

Instrumental in the planning and building of Methodist Towers at 160 West 8th Street in Erie, he served as its board president for many years until 1983 when his son Jack M. Gornall, became president thereafter.

A life trustee of the Dickinson School of Law, he served for over a quarter of a century. In 1988 he was honored by its Alumni Association with its Distinguished Service Award. He was a Second Century member of the law school’s John Reed Society.

He was a member of Perry-Keystone Lodge No. 392 F.&A.M. for over fifty years, Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Erie; Zem Zem Temple Shrine, Royal Order of Jesters and in 1981 was coroneted 33º, the highest degree in Scottish Rite Masonry.

For 30 years he served as a board member of the Union Bank and Trust Company, Northwest Bank and Mellon Bank North. He also served on the boards of the Parker White Metal Company and High Pressure Equipment Company. In addition, he served on the boards of The Greater Erie YMCA, as both Board President and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, the Hamot Second Century Fund, the Erie Cemetery Association, and the Sarah A. Reed Home. As a member of the Kahkwa Club, he served as its President, and was also a member of the Erie Yacht Club, the Erie Club, and the Shrine Club.

From 1984, with his wife Elsie, he spent the winter months in Naples, Florida where he was a member of the Royal Poinciana Golf Club and the Beacon House Club. For 40 years he and Elsie traveled extensively worldwide.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Elsie O. Gornall in 2010; an infant son Douglas Wesley Gornall, and brothers: William O. Gornall, James W. Gornall, and Robert D. Gornall and sister, Barbara Pierce Deutsch.

He is survived by his two sons, Jack M. Gornall and his wife Sharon, and James F. Gornall and his wife Georgeann; a daughter, Patricia A. VanTassel and her husband Richard; nine grandchildren, Jennifer Gornall and her husband Timohty Zieziula, Sally Gornall Dean and her husband Jason, Andrew Gornall and his wife Laura, Emily VanTassel, Jill VanTassel Revell and her husband Scott, Leslie VanTassel and her fiance Dennis Schmidt, John VanTassel and his wife Nicole, Rene’ Gornall and Chad Gornall; eight great-grandchildren, Jack and Elizabeth Rouch, Will, Rachel and Julia Dean, Jane Revell, Emelia Gornall, and Lyla VanTassel. He is also survived by a sister, Patricia Allen, and many nephews and nieces.

Friends may call at the First United Methodist Church, 707 Sassafras on Saturday 12 noon to 6pm. and on Monday from 9am until the time of service at 11am. with Rev. James Parkinson and Rev. Dr. Drew Harvey officiating. Burial will be in Erie Cemetery with full Military Honors.

Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the M. Fletcher Gornall and Elsie O. Gornall Endowment Fund of the Erie Community Foundation, 459 West 6th Street, Erie PA 16507.

Arrangements entrusted to the Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 602 West 10th St. Erie.