Rosemary (Nicholson) Fortenberry of Hot Springs, Arkansas, formerly of Newport, departed this life on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, at the age of 93. She was born July 1, 1926 in Grubbs, the daughter of Samuel Stucky and Mary Edith (Sutherland) Nicholson.
Mrs. Fortenberry was a 1943 graduate of Newport High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics from the University of Arkansas in 1947.
Over the course of 32 years, Mrs. Fortenberry taught school at Newport, Swifton, and Grubbs, retiring in 1984. She was a member of the Retired Teacher’s Association and former member of Delta Kappa Gamma. Mrs. Fortenberry enjoyed cooking, reading, and sewing. Her greatest joy came from time spent with her grandchildren. She was a member of the Holden Avenue Church of Christ, where she taught Bible and Sunday School.
Mrs. Fortenberry was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Palmer Fortenberry; one son, John Stucky Fortenberry; one daughter-in-law, Mary Beth Fortenberry; two brothers, J.D. “Bezo” Nicholson and Kenneth Alton “Stoney” Nicholson; two sisters, Wilma Tiner and Betty Doty; and her parents.
She is survived by one daughter, Mary Lynn Terry, and husband, Lynn of Hot Springs; one brother, Larry “Buckshot” Gus Nicholson of Newport; two sisters, Sammy Byford and Ann Norman, both of Searcy; four grandchildren, Sarah Terry Lehr and husband, Zac, of Little Rock; Stephen Terry and wife, Eva, of Fayetteville, Wesley Fortenberry and wife, Charly of South Haven, Mississippi, and Jamie Fortenberry and wife, Charli, of West Memphis; six great-grandchildren, Allison Fortenberry, Mattie Grace Fortenberry, McGuire Fortenberry, Millie Fortenberry, Jacob Lehr, and Fiona Terry; many nieces, nephews, and a lifetime of friends.
Friends may visit at the funeral home, Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Funeral services are 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Stephen Terry, Wesley Fortenberry, Jamie Fortenberry, Zac Lehr, and Kenny Nicholson.
Honorary pallbearers are Former Staff Members of Oakdale Assisted Living and West Shores Retirement Community of Hot Springs.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Elijah Pricob of Senior Comfort Assisted Living of Hot Springs. Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
