Obituary of Bobbie Ruth Fortner

Bobbie Ruth Burke was born on May 13, 1938. She is one of eight children born from the union of the late Jessie Vernon and the late Dora (Lingar) Burke. Bobbie attended Monroe High School graduating with the class of 1956. Bobbie married the love of her life Oscar Allen Fortner on November 16, 1957 and from this union came the birth of four wonderful children. She was forever grateful and honored to be married to such a selfless caregiver and husband, the guy we all are proud to call “Dad”. Bobbie was very involved with her church; it was her family outside of her home. She was a lifelong member of Monroe Missionary Baptist Church. She participated in the Joys Senior Adult Group and the Ambassador Sunday School Class. She loved serving the Lord by assisting Bus Driver Bud on many church adventures, cooking for youth camps/mission trips, designing costumes for church plays, attending women’s retreats with her partner in crime Polly Revels, helping with Mission Friends/Girls In Action/Acteens and preparing funeral dinners. She fully understood what having the heart of a servant meant because she was always looking for opportunities to help people and serve the lord. She was an avid quilter making many extraordinary pieces for her family and friends. Bobbie was a great cook, hosting all the holiday gatherings at her home. Some of her specialties include her pot roast, amazing Christmas cookies, banana pudding and her famous chocolate pie. Bobbie Ruth Fortner, age 78 of Temperance passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at the Hickory Ridge nursing home in Temperance. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brothers: Roy and Dewey Burke; and her sisters: Billie Burke, Thelma (JR) Bratcher and Ruby Sandifer. Always grateful for all the help her siblings gave her throughout life’s journey especially all the love and help from her sisters. To cherish her memory, Bobbie leaves behind her beloved husband of fifty-nine years: Oscar Allen Fortner; her children: Paul (Michele) Fortner of Maumee OH, Pam (Lenny) Steuwe of Petersburg, Billie (Ronnie) Riggs of Monroe and Tommy (Suzanne) Fortner of Monroe; her brothers: J.C. (Bobbie) Burke of Monroe and George (Sheryl) Burke of Florida; her sisters: Bea (Cliff) Friar of Monroe and Bessie (Howard) Cosby of Monroe; grandchildren: John Fortner, Amy Kanney, Dirk Riggs, Daveaux Riggs and Cristina Steuwe; and great-grandchildren: William Fortner, Lucas Fortner, Isaac Kanney, with one on the way. Friends may gather on Thursday, January 5, 2017 from 2:00pm until 7:00pm at Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe. A Celebration of Her life will follow at 7:00pm also at Merkle’s with Pastor Roy Southerland of Monroe Missionary Baptist Church officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the wishes of the family. Online guests may leave word of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting merklefs.com.