James Edwin Fortson, 89, went to be with his Lord, and be reunited with his late wife Marie Hurley Fortson on their 66th wedding anniversary June 27, 2011. Born September 5, 1921, in Rice, Texas, he was a vital member of the Rice and Corsicana communities all his life, as well as a beloved son, brother, husband, and father of 24 living descendants.
After graduating from Corsicana High School in 1939, Mr. Fortson attended Virginia Military Institute and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1943, and served as a U.S. Navy pilot during WWII. He married Marie Hurley on June 27, 1945.
James E. Fortson, his brother Joe B Fortson, Jr., and sister Laura Fortson Johnston operated extensive farm and ranch land centered near Rice for more than 50 years.
In 1959 Mr. Fortson founded the Rice Water Supply and Sewer Service Corporation as a community-owned, non-profit utility, the first water system for the City of Rice that did not involve a cistern. He served as chairman of the board for the utility until 2008.
Mr. Fortson also served the Texas banking industry for more than 50 years as director and chairman of the board of First State Bank of Rice, and as director of First Bank and Trust of Dawson. He served on numerous boards and agencies in Corsicana including Soil Conservation Service, Navarro Central Appraisal District and First United Methodist Church of Corsicana.
James Fortson was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Benjamin and Lyda McGee Fortson, his wife, brother, and sister. Surviving are his three children and spouses: Ann and Bob Marcy of Clinton, Okla., Jane and Fred Hardaway of Richardson, James Hurley (Jim) Fortson of Rice, and Emily Fortson of Corsicana.
Grandchildren and their families are Jill and Brent Atchley, Bryler, 11, and Madison, 7, of Clinton, Okla., Todd and Emily Marcy, Caleb, 3, and Joshua, 1, of Oklahoma City; Mary and Mitch Czuk, Adam, 9, James, 7, and William, 3, of Federal Way, Wash; Dixie and Don Stevenson, Ella, 3, and Vivian, 5 months, of Naples, Fla.; Miles and Kathryn Hardaway, Dalton, 5, and Travis, 2, of Lubbock; Brett Hardaway, Kittie Ellis, and Andrew, 1, of Garland; Jennifer Fortson and Ellie, 7, of Rice; and Jessica Fortson of San Marcos.
With love and great appreciation the family thanks Mary Jo Middle, Pam Parker, and Lawanda Cherry for the care and devotion shown their father over the last 3 ½ years of his illness.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Corley Funeral Home Chapel in Corsicana. A graveside for family and friends will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana, followed at 2 p.m. by a memorial at First United Methodist Church Corsicana. The Rev. Thomas Guthrie, formerly of Rice, will officiate.
After graduating from Corsicana High School in 1939, Mr. Fortson attended Virginia Military Institute and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1943, and served as a U.S. Navy pilot during WWII. He married Marie Hurley on June 27, 1945.
James E. Fortson, his brother Joe B Fortson, Jr., and sister Laura Fortson Johnston operated extensive farm and ranch land centered near Rice for more than 50 years.
In 1959 Mr. Fortson founded the Rice Water Supply and Sewer Service Corporation as a community-owned, non-profit utility, the first water system for the City of Rice that did not involve a cistern. He served as chairman of the board for the utility until 2008.
Mr. Fortson also served the Texas banking industry for more than 50 years as director and chairman of the board of First State Bank of Rice, and as director of First Bank and Trust of Dawson. He served on numerous boards and agencies in Corsicana including Soil Conservation Service, Navarro Central Appraisal District and First United Methodist Church of Corsicana.
James Fortson was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Benjamin and Lyda McGee Fortson, his wife, brother, and sister. Surviving are his three children and spouses: Ann and Bob Marcy of Clinton, Okla., Jane and Fred Hardaway of Richardson, James Hurley (Jim) Fortson of Rice, and Emily Fortson of Corsicana.
Grandchildren and their families are Jill and Brent Atchley, Bryler, 11, and Madison, 7, of Clinton, Okla., Todd and Emily Marcy, Caleb, 3, and Joshua, 1, of Oklahoma City; Mary and Mitch Czuk, Adam, 9, James, 7, and William, 3, of Federal Way, Wash; Dixie and Don Stevenson, Ella, 3, and Vivian, 5 months, of Naples, Fla.; Miles and Kathryn Hardaway, Dalton, 5, and Travis, 2, of Lubbock; Brett Hardaway, Kittie Ellis, and Andrew, 1, of Garland; Jennifer Fortson and Ellie, 7, of Rice; and Jessica Fortson of San Marcos.
With love and great appreciation the family thanks Mary Jo Middle, Pam Parker, and Lawanda Cherry for the care and devotion shown their father over the last 3 ½ years of his illness.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Corley Funeral Home Chapel in Corsicana. A graveside for family and friends will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana, followed at 2 p.m. by a memorial at First United Methodist Church Corsicana. The Rev. Thomas Guthrie, formerly of Rice, will officiate.
James Edwin Fortson, 89, went to be with his Lord, and be reunited with his late wife Marie Hurley Fortson on their 66th wedding anniversary June 27, 2011. Born September 5, 1921, in Rice, Texas, he was a vital member of the Rice and Corsicana communities all his life, as well as a beloved son, brother, husband, and father of 24 living descendants.
After graduating from Corsicana High School in 1939, Mr. Fortson attended Virginia Military Institute and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1943, and served as a U.S. Navy pilot during WWII. He married Marie Hurley on June 27, 1945.
James E. Fortson, his brother Joe B Fortson, Jr., and sister Laura Fortson Johnston operated extensive farm and ranch land centered near Rice for more than 50 years.
In 1959 Mr. Fortson founded the Rice Water Supply and Sewer Service Corporation as a community-owned, non-profit utility, the first water system for the City of Rice that did not involve a cistern. He served as chairman of the board for the utility until 2008.
Mr. Fortson also served the Texas banking industry for more than 50 years as director and chairman of the board of First State Bank of Rice, and as director of First Bank and Trust of Dawson. He served on numerous boards and agencies in Corsicana including Soil Conservation Service, Navarro Central Appraisal District and First United Methodist Church of Corsicana.
James Fortson was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Benjamin and Lyda McGee Fortson, his wife, brother, and sister. Surviving are his three children and spouses: Ann and Bob Marcy of Clinton, Okla., Jane and Fred Hardaway of Richardson, James Hurley (Jim) Fortson of Rice, and Emily Fortson of Corsicana.
Grandchildren and their families are Jill and Brent Atchley, Bryler, 11, and Madison, 7, of Clinton, Okla., Todd and Emily Marcy, Caleb, 3, and Joshua, 1, of Oklahoma City; Mary and Mitch Czuk, Adam, 9, James, 7, and William, 3, of Federal Way, Wash; Dixie and Don Stevenson, Ella, 3, and Vivian, 5 months, of Naples, Fla.; Miles and Kathryn Hardaway, Dalton, 5, and Travis, 2, of Lubbock; Brett Hardaway, Kittie Ellis, and Andrew, 1, of Garland; Jennifer Fortson and Ellie, 7, of Rice; and Jessica Fortson of San Marcos.
With love and great appreciation the family thanks Mary Jo Middle, Pam Parker, and Lawanda Cherry for the care and devotion shown their father over the last 3 ½ years of his illness.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Corley Funeral Home Chapel in Corsicana. A graveside for family and friends will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana, followed at 2 p.m. by a memorial at First United Methodist Church Corsicana. The Rev. Thomas Guthrie, formerly of Rice, will officiate.
After graduating from Corsicana High School in 1939, Mr. Fortson attended Virginia Military Institute and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1943, and served as a U.S. Navy pilot during WWII. He married Marie Hurley on June 27, 1945.
James E. Fortson, his brother Joe B Fortson, Jr., and sister Laura Fortson Johnston operated extensive farm and ranch land centered near Rice for more than 50 years.
In 1959 Mr. Fortson founded the Rice Water Supply and Sewer Service Corporation as a community-owned, non-profit utility, the first water system for the City of Rice that did not involve a cistern. He served as chairman of the board for the utility until 2008.
Mr. Fortson also served the Texas banking industry for more than 50 years as director and chairman of the board of First State Bank of Rice, and as director of First Bank and Trust of Dawson. He served on numerous boards and agencies in Corsicana including Soil Conservation Service, Navarro Central Appraisal District and First United Methodist Church of Corsicana.
James Fortson was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Benjamin and Lyda McGee Fortson, his wife, brother, and sister. Surviving are his three children and spouses: Ann and Bob Marcy of Clinton, Okla., Jane and Fred Hardaway of Richardson, James Hurley (Jim) Fortson of Rice, and Emily Fortson of Corsicana.
Grandchildren and their families are Jill and Brent Atchley, Bryler, 11, and Madison, 7, of Clinton, Okla., Todd and Emily Marcy, Caleb, 3, and Joshua, 1, of Oklahoma City; Mary and Mitch Czuk, Adam, 9, James, 7, and William, 3, of Federal Way, Wash; Dixie and Don Stevenson, Ella, 3, and Vivian, 5 months, of Naples, Fla.; Miles and Kathryn Hardaway, Dalton, 5, and Travis, 2, of Lubbock; Brett Hardaway, Kittie Ellis, and Andrew, 1, of Garland; Jennifer Fortson and Ellie, 7, of Rice; and Jessica Fortson of San Marcos.
With love and great appreciation the family thanks Mary Jo Middle, Pam Parker, and Lawanda Cherry for the care and devotion shown their father over the last 3 ½ years of his illness.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Corley Funeral Home Chapel in Corsicana. A graveside for family and friends will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana, followed at 2 p.m. by a memorial at First United Methodist Church Corsicana. The Rev. Thomas Guthrie, formerly of Rice, will officiate.
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