1/16/1995
Funeral services for Mary Emaline Fortner, 89, of Prescott, Arizona, formerly of
Knoxville, who died January 16, at Prescott Samaritan Village Nursing Care in Prescott,
were held January 19, 1995, at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville. Burial was at
Zion Cemetery, in Pershing.
Pastor Bob Ward officiated at the services. Music was provided by Darlene Mooberry,
organist. Pallbearers were Larry Fortner, Paul Maddy, Kenneth Monroe, Jim Ramsey,
Don Rodgers, and David Shawver.
Mary was born September 30, 1905, in Marion County, the daughter of Sara Eliza Haines
Rankin and Henry Harvey Rankin. She was raised near Wiggins, Colo., then returned
to Knoxville, where she graduated from Knoxville High School.
She was employed by
Morse Brothers. She moved to Des Moines in 1942, where she was employed by Union
Park Church, the Christian Education office of the Methodist Church, and then for
the Des Moines Independent School system, where she was in charge of the substitute
teachers. She also worked part-time for the Ames Community School offices.
She was
active in the Methodist Church, serving as Women's Society Guild President of the
South Iowa Conference, as well as other offices in Knoxville Methodist Church women's
groups. She served as President of the Knoxville Women's Club from 1979 through
1981.
She was united in marriage to Irva Rowland Monroe on March 19, 1924.
She later married Ivan Former in Des Moines on December 28, 1957.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Miriam Mark and Helen Maddy of Knoxville;
and a brother, Richard Rankin of Denver.
She is survived by her husband, Ivan; a daughter, Joan Ramsey of Prescott, Ariz.;
a step-son, Larry Former of Ames; a step-daughter, Loretta Former Hendricks, of
Huxley; two grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and four
step-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Radio Ministry.
Arrangements were made by Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville.