Tyler Riggs Fletcher, 66, a beloved bookstore owner, devoted community member, and faithful servant of Salado, passed away on May 2, 2026. Born on October 17, 1959, in Augusta, Georgia, he was the son of the late Col. Tyler Herrick Fletcher and Shirley (Gardner) Wilkerson. After completing his secondary education in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Tyler relocated to Salado to work alongside his grandmother and mentor, Thelma Rawls Fletcher. He continued his academic journey at Temple Junior College and later graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown with a degree in Art History and a minor in French. His passion for the arts led him to Paris, where he studied at the Sorbonne, followed by a prestigious fine arts finishing course at Christie’s in London. After gaining three years of professional experience at a New York art gallery, he returned home to Salado to begin his distinguished, lifelong career as a dealer and appraiser.

A true fixture of the community, Tyler was the proud proprietor of Fletcher’s Rare Books & Antiques. The cherished shop on North Main Street, established in 1927 by his grandparents, Herbert Herrick and Thelma Rawls Fletcher, also served as the historic home for the Anson Jones Press. Tyler worked devotedly with Thelma until her passing in 1995. As a respected expert on early Texas churches and stained glass, he deeply valued the connections forged with his patrons. A gracious host, he frequently sponsored community events at the bookstore that celebrated local and state figures. He famously remarked, "You can tell so much about a person by the books on their shelves. I get to visit with customers every day and oftentimes they become my good friends." Tyler truly never met a stranger, leaning joyfully into his profound gift for hospitality and friendship.

Tyler’s faith and generosity left a profound impact on his hometown, friends, and acquaintances. In the summer of 1995, he transformed a storage shed behind his bookstore into a tiny chapel with a simple altar and four antique pews. This humble space provided solace to many and eventually became the home of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church. Tyler will be remembered for his service and devotion to the old Belton St. Luke’s and St. Joseph’s in Salado as a youth minister, Sunday school teacher, and vestry leader. For years, driven by his boundless love for people, Tyler welcomed new and old friends to an early morning coffee and breakfast to start each day. His constant care for his neighbors earned him special recognition as a “Very Nice Person” in the local Village News. Actively involved in preserving local heritage, Tyler frequently volunteered his time, including serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the Salado Historical Society’s Old

Church Place Gala. He also served as a director and board member of the Salado Museum and College Park, and on the board of Helping Hands Ministry in Belton. Tyler will be remembered as a true friend to all who walked through his doors, known for his welcoming spirit, his love of literature, fine art, porcelain, and antique furniture, and his unwavering dedication to his church and his community. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tyler and Shirley Fletcher; his brother, Leslie R. Fletcher; his grandfather, Herbert H. Fletcher; and his grandmother and mentor, Thelma Rawls Fletcher. 

Tyler is survived by his brothers, Desmond W. Fletcher (Stacy) of Williamsburg, VA; Hugh H. Fletcher (Jane) of Tucson, AZ; and Dr. Gardner L. Fletcher (Carol) of Hattiesburg, MS; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 945 N. Main St., Salado, TX 76571, followed by his interment at Salado Cemetery. The family invites friends and patrons to join them for a reception afterward at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Joseph’s Church, for the Tyler R. Fletcher Scholarship to support the EYC.