Jefferson S. Fortney, 85, former valley resident, died Sunday [December 17] at Yucaipa, Calif. He was born Aug. 29, 1893, east of Kittitas in an area known as Warm Springs. He is the son of the late Levi and Julia Hayes Fortney.
He married Alice Anderson in Ellensburg in 1913. He was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad in 1915 and worked as a section foreman and superintendent of the Extra Gang.
He moved to Tacoma in 1930 and retired in 1958. He was preceded in death by his wife, July 23, 1962 in Tacoma. He moved to California in 1968.
Survivors include a son, Lowell Fortney of Skykomish; three daughters, Mrs. Fred (Hazel) Wilder of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., Mrs. Ray (Dollie) Bowman of Omak, and Mrs. Fred (Evelyn) VanTrogen of Enumclaw; 14 grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.
Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at IOOF Cemetery with the Rev. Donald Meekof officiating. Friends who wish to attend may meet at the cemetery.
Daily Record, December 19, 1978
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman