Obituary of John Byron Fort

John Byron Fort March 01, 1915 - March 29, 2014 Funeral services for John Byron Fort, 99, of Tatum, NM will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at First Baptist Church, Tatum, at10:00 am with Bro Wayne Brazil officiating. Burial will follow at Tatum cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Mr. Fort was born in Lea County on the homestead east of Lovington on March 1, 1915 to William Herman and Bera (Freeman) Fort and passed away on March 29, 2014 in Denver City, Texas. He married Ruby Faye Sweatt in Lovington on December 20, 1935. Mr. Fort was a rancher who considered ranching a fun job and he worked as much as he could until he broke his leg at age 97. He has been a member of Tatum Baptist Church for 70 years serving as deacon, trustee, treasurer and Sunday school teacher. He was on the Lea County ASCS committee; a member of the Tatum School Board; was inducted into the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame and received the Foy Proctor Memorial Cowman’s Award. He enjoyed playing dominoes especially “42”. He was a well-respected man and will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his wife Ruby Faye; his parents; two brothers: Carroll Fort and W. H. Fort Jr.; and one sister: Bera Maude Fort. He is survived by three sons: Royce L. and wife Sally Fort of Midland, TX; Curtis A. and wife Carol Fort of Tatum, NM and Jerry D. Fort of Aurora, Colorado and one daughter: Laquita A. Dial of Clovis, NM; one brother: R. F. “Buddy” Fort of Lubbock, TX and one sister: Bessie D. Spears of Las Cruces, NM. Also surviving him are eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren and a host of friends. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 from noon until 8:00 pm with the family in residence at the funeral home from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, NMBCH, PO Box 629, Portales, NM 88130