Obituary for Gayle Fortney
Gayle Ashley Fortney
1935-2022
Gayle Ashley Fortney, age 87, passed from this life on November 22, 2022 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at the Legacy Village, after an extended battle with breast cancer. A memorial service will begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at the Stillwater First United Methodist Church with a private family inurnment being held in the First United Methodist church columbarium. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.
Gayle was born to Cecil and Anna Olivia Ashley on November 11, 1935 in Altus, Oklahoma, joining older sister Twila.
Gayle recalled many fond memories of her family and friends from school and church, (where she was a lifelong member) at Martha, Oklahoma. She was star basketball player on the Martha High School team. She attended Oklahoma State, receiving a degree in Elementary Education. At OSU she was an active member of Future Teachers and served as President of the Organization. She was also very active in the Wesley Foundation activities. Gayle was a proud lifelong member of the Methodist Church.
At OSU she met the love of her life Fred Fortney, and they married after graduation in 1957. She taught school at Altus, Duncan, Tulsa and worked towards her Master’s Degree at Tulsa University. She followed Fred in his career with the US Dept of Ag living in several Communities before returning to Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1971.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Gayle leaves behind her loving husband Fred; her children Kevin Fortney of Stillwater; Brent Fortney and wife Amy of Tucson, Arizona; grandson Josh Fortney and wife Taylor; great grandson Elijah of Lawton Oklahoma; sister Twila Brown and nephew Mark Brown of Fort Worth, Texas
Donations in Gayle’s name may be made to the First United Methodist Church Foundation.
1935-2022
Gayle Ashley Fortney, age 87, passed from this life on November 22, 2022 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at the Legacy Village, after an extended battle with breast cancer. A memorial service will begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at the Stillwater First United Methodist Church with a private family inurnment being held in the First United Methodist church columbarium. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.
Gayle was born to Cecil and Anna Olivia Ashley on November 11, 1935 in Altus, Oklahoma, joining older sister Twila.
Gayle recalled many fond memories of her family and friends from school and church, (where she was a lifelong member) at Martha, Oklahoma. She was star basketball player on the Martha High School team. She attended Oklahoma State, receiving a degree in Elementary Education. At OSU she was an active member of Future Teachers and served as President of the Organization. She was also very active in the Wesley Foundation activities. Gayle was a proud lifelong member of the Methodist Church.
At OSU she met the love of her life Fred Fortney, and they married after graduation in 1957. She taught school at Altus, Duncan, Tulsa and worked towards her Master’s Degree at Tulsa University. She followed Fred in his career with the US Dept of Ag living in several Communities before returning to Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1971.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Gayle leaves behind her loving husband Fred; her children Kevin Fortney of Stillwater; Brent Fortney and wife Amy of Tucson, Arizona; grandson Josh Fortney and wife Taylor; great grandson Elijah of Lawton Oklahoma; sister Twila Brown and nephew Mark Brown of Fort Worth, Texas
Donations in Gayle’s name may be made to the First United Methodist Church Foundation.