To the Fortney Family,
I remember Jim as a friend of my brother Ken Wiegand, who recently passed also. I heard about Jim when I was up in Ohio to see my brother for the very last time in May. I wanted to tell Ken, but he wasn't comprehensive at the time. I am sure they are now good buddies again up in Heaven. We are all saddened, but comforted by the peace that is now found.
Sincerely,
Cyndi Wiegand Walker

Dear Patsy and family, Please know my thoughts have been with you since I heard of Jim's passing.  I wish I was "home" so that I could have been able to express my sympathies to all of you in person, but alas that was not the case. I will keep you in prayer, and hope that you will find peace.

To the Fortney family: I was shocked to hear of Jim's passing.  We were in the same garage for years. He always had a smile and was the best at what he did and I learned many things from him on the job.  But, job aside, I also learned that Jim was just a good man.  You could see that in Dan by how he is, and I am sure the rest of the family, which I never had the pleasure of meeting.  God be with you all.  You have my sincerest condolences and are in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Fortney family, I only had the pleasure of working with Jim for a few short years. I clicked with him fast and knew who to call when I needed help. He was a friend and mentor. He is a great loss to our company and an even greater loss to his family.

Dear Aunt Pat and Family,

We are so sorry we could not make it to the services.  We are very sadden by the loss of Jim.  He was such a kind and loving family man.  I always remember the wonderful "Bear Hugs" from Jim and how your family always put a smile on my face.  

Our hearts go out to you and the family and know that we love you all so very much.

Ricky, Tammy, Ashley, Brittany and Courtney

DEAREST PAT AND FAMILY, I WAS SADDENED TO HEAR ABOUT JIMMY. WE HAVE ALOT OF MEMORIES THAT GO BACK MANY YEARS. MY LOVE AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AT THIS VERY SAD TIME.  LINDA CAPUTO-NOE , PETE AND MIKE

My prayers for family and friends. May you find peace knowing he is with God. Remember his smiles and kind words always.
Rest in peace Sir.

My sympathies to the family of Jim, I enjoyed him as a teammate and as an opponent in both softball and bowling.
Sorry to hear of his passing.

Dear Family,

We are saddened by your loss. His memory lives on for all.

Pandora and Claude

I don't know where to start. I have too many memories to count with Jim. Spent many times wheeling just him, pat and my father, along with many wonderful campfire conversations. This was constant all the way through my childhood, shaping me to the person I am today. 

Im sorry I cant make it today. The distance is simply to vast. However you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

The trail will never be the same without you. You will be missed by us all. Rest in peace Jim.

Jim was a very special person in so many ways.  He will be missed by many, and never forgotten.

Sorry to read of Jim's passing.  He was always a good guy and a fine softball player in the Ohio Bell League

May 13, 2011
Please know that you are in my prayers.
My heartfelt sympathy to you and your 
family.
       Debbie Ellis

Dear Pat & Family,
 Please know you are in my thoughts & prayers.
My heart goes out to you all....

Love, your cousin Robin
Clearwater, Florida

Our loss gods gain.You will be missed Jim. Pat you and your family are in my prayers . Pat you have always been my favorite relative and you and your families loss is felt down here in Florida  Kevin Glover Jacksonville Fla

Daniel and family,
I knew your father as a good man. He was a mentor and friend. Francine and I shed a tear and a prayer with you today.

Dear Pat and family,
Ron and I were very sorry to hear of Jim's passing,please know you are in our prayers.
Always remember the good times, they will help you and your children through the bad times.
May God Bless all of you.
Ron & Becky Quercioli

To the Fortney family, thoughts and prayers are with you right now during this time.  Mr. Fortney will be missed, but the type of person he was will always live on in my heart.

To the Fortney Family,

Jim was a role model, mentor, and a very special man. Whenever, I had "the duty" on Sundays we would meet for his "15" minute break. Devout family man, he was so happy when Daniel joined the Bell-Ameritech-SBC-AT&T Family. Our relationship was sooooo cool, he named one of his vehicles after me. Jim, I will miss you and your family will always be in my prayers.

Very sad to hear aboutJim's passing.  We always loved his laughter and smiles at the 3rd of July campfires.  Dave and Joan Jackson

Dear Pat & Family,
I will be out of town and would like to express my deepest sympathy on your loss. Jim and I never worked in the same crew, but our paths crossed often during our extended time with the phone company. It was always a pleasure work with him, and later as a dispatch manager know he was there when I needed a repairman to handle a difficult case of trouble. He was a family man, friend, dedicated technician, and a true craftsman.

Dearest Pat,
 Our deepest sympathy to you and your family.

To the Fortney family, My feeling's of great loss and my deepest sympathies go out to all who will miss Jim, i was sincerely thankful to have had the opportunity to spend time with him in california, i will look to the stars at night & remember a truly great friend  [George Reams ATT west Salinas, Ca.]

Dear Pat, Kristen, Megan and Daniel,  
I am praying continally that the burden of grief and sadness is lessened for all of you.
We remember Jim with the utmost respect.  He was always "on call".  When a friend or neighbor called he showed up immediately.
We are grateful for all the hours he shared with Amanda on so many jeeping trips.  He was a very possitive influence in her life.
We will miss him and look forward to the time we will all be reunited in the Kingdom of God.

Jim was on my list of favorite people in this world and I will hold the times we spent together close to my heart. I considered him a life long friend from the moment I met him some 12 years ago and he will be terribly missed. Hold on to the good times and try to find strength in those memories.

Dearest Pat and family,

My deepest sympathy to you and the children on this tragic news.  My brother John called me yesterday, and couldn't get the words out; he was crying so.  May God be near in this trying time.  We know Jim is in Heaven, enjoying God's Glory.

Marge Karsnak Fosberg, Atlanta, GA

Mrs. Fortney: Jim was a good Telephoneman. You have my sympathies for your loss.

One of the "best" that will be missed by everyone. Our deepest sympathy to Pat and the family.  May God bless you, and keep you in comfort and love.

To the Fortney Family,
My deepest sympathies to all of you. Jim was truly one of a kind. I was fortunate enough to work with Jim both in Palm Beach and California. He was the nicest, kindest , hardest working man I ever got to work with.
A funny story, In California, we weren't here but maybe a day or two and Jim accidentally set a cable on fire(caused by a birds nest). He was so upset, not because he thought he might be sent back to Ohio, but because he thought it reflected on his work. We all knew better and Jim was one of the few that I would have trusted my life with, let alone some old crappy cable. Consequently, Jim earned the name "Fireball Fortney", The other managers thought it was pretty funny as everytime someone would mention the crew from Ohio, someone would start to sing "Fire" by the Ohio Players!

FIreball Fortney, you will be missed and our hearts are broken. I am  sure God has much better cable in heaven, and now he has you to take care of it.

Chris Caffrey

Dear Pat, Daniel, Megan and Kristen,

Our hearts our heavy with your loss.  Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Much love,

It has been a true pleasure to have known Jim and his family.  The Fortneys are the most giving and honest family I have ever met.  We all would like to bear some of your pain, please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.

You are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Jim was a wonderful person.

Dear Pat ,Daniel ,Megan and Kristin,
Jim was the best neighbor and friend  anyone could ever ask for. I'll miss him calling through the yard to  me..."How many more days of school?", with a grin on his face.   May God 
comfort you and keep you in His arms during this sad time. Love, Renee'

Danny, My deepest condolences to you and your famly. Your Dad was a good friend of mine for many years and will be truly missed: not only by me, but by everyone that had the pleasure to have known him.

Jim , you were a mentor, and a dear friend.  You will be greatly missed.  Gregg Pahls

Our prayers and thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Jim will definitely be missed. He was a wonderful person. 
David and Marianne Brunelle, Atwater, OH

Pat, You and your family are in our thoughts and our prayers..God Bless you and the kids.  Jack and Rose Hanslik

We send our very deepest sympathy and will continue to hold the entire family in our prayers.
Mrs. Drew and Mr. Rey

We always enjoyed the times spent with Jim and your family.  There was always a lot of laughter and fun.  Please keep these happy memories close to your heart.  We will deeply miss Jim.  He was a good husband, father, grandfather and friend.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Dear Pat & Family, I new "of" Jim for a very long time. I only had the priviledge of working with him for a short time in the late '90's. He was a rare breed of craftsmen that took pride in all of his work. I remember my last- and probably longest- conversation with him in front of Turneys. We spoke of his family, his family and his family. I am so very sorry for your loss.

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.  We send our deepest sympathy.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Dear Pat and family,
I think I kept up with Jim just about my whole 30 years with Ma Bell and after I moved away, it was always great to keep up with him. He made sure he bragged up on his family and was very proud of your son's service.
Remember the good and happy times as they are a comfort. Jim was good man who will be missed by many.
God Bless him and you.

OBITUARY

James Jim Allen Fortney

July 31, 1947 – May 9, 2011

Gattozzi & Son Funeral Home

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