Geraldine Rae "Gerry" Fortson

Geraldine Rae “Gerry” Fortson, 94, passed away June 4, 2024 in Tecumseh.  Gerry was born August 4, 1929 in Paden, Oklahoma to Prince William and Verna (Worley) Deweber.  As a child she attended school in Paden.  Later in her childhood, her family moved west of Tecumseh and she attended school at Brendle.  The family then moved into town and she attended school in Tecumseh.  She was a 1946 graduate of Tecumseh High School. 

As a young woman, she worked at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Tecumseh.  She attended the First Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh where she met M. Vaughan Fortson.  They were married on September 6, 1955.  Following the wedding, she returned with her husband to California.  They resided in San Diego for over 30 years where they reared their family.  They were members of Linda Vista United Methodist Church.  She worked at Bank of America as a teller for many years before retiring in the mid 1980’s.   Following her retirement, they moved back to Tecumseh in 1986.  She enjoyed gardening, sewing, knitting, bird watching and collecting tea cups. 

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church; the Tecumseh Sorosis Club; the Tecumseh Alumni Association; the Tecumseh Historical Society; Friends of the Library and in later years joined Broadway United Methodist Church. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one daughter, Deborah Boot; four sisters, Viola “Faye” Deweber, Audrey Marquez, Geneva Horton, DeWilma Adams and Dormalee Carver; three brothers, Ralph, Floyd and Glen Deweber and son-in-law, Ken Ely.

Survivors include daughters and son-in-law, Sue Ely of Prescott Valley, Arizona and Melanie and Jerry Kenyon of Wymore, Nebraska; sons and daughters-in-law John and Amzie Fortson and Joe and Vickie Fortson, all of Tecumseh;  nine grandchildren: Tamara Lane, Tim Ely, Jerry and David Boot, Michael, Tristan and Cody Holtry, Ryan and William Fortson;  fifteen great grandchildren: T. & Taya Burton, Mar Ely, Nathan, Joshua, Hailie, Alexander, Aurora, Tyler, Madison, Mason, Amelia, Carter, Jason and Alice Holtry and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Broadway Chapel in Tecumseh. The family has designated the Tecumseh Historical Society or the Tecumseh Alumni Association as appropriate for memorials.