He retired from Franklin Furniture Co. and was a farmer.
Mr. Fortner was a member of Sunnyside Baptist Church.
He was a very gentle, loving and caring man and enjoyed visiting, talking and lending a helping hand to neighbors and friends.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law: Doug and Mattie Fortner, Jerry and Nancy Fortner; two sisters and a brother-in-law: Patty Fortner, Louise and Harold Shelton; one brother and sister-in-law: Harry and Charlotte Fortner;
brothers-in-law: Tommy Southerland and John Weems; sisters-in-law: Lois Willett, Polly Weems Jones, Louise Weems;
several nieces and nephews.
He was the son of the late Lem and Bonnie Fortner and was preceded in death by his wife,
Frances Fortner; one sister, Romanie Southerland.
The funeral service will be held at 2 pm Tuesday, July 23, 2013, in the Kiser-Rose Hill Chapel.
Rev. Richard Long and Mr. Bryan Jones will officiate. Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Cemetery at Sunnyside.
Pallbearers will be Kyle Waddell, Ralph McNabb, Joe Edward “Eddie” Harmon, Matthew Gentry, Jerry Waddell, Roger Willett, Eric Shelton, Noly Espejo and Bryan Jones.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Kilgore, Steve Woods, William Luttrell, Randy Rumbley, Carroll Gentry, Doyle Shepherd, Mike Barham, Dale Southerland and his neighbors and friends in the Sunnyside community, his “Breakfast Buddies” at Hardee’s on the Asheville Highway.
The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund (Sunnyside), c/o Cynthia Higgins, 539 Wykle Road, Greeneville, TN 37743.
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