LYDIA MAE FORTNER

DEXTER -- Lydia Mae Fortner, 86, of Dexter died Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, at Vintage Villa Nursing Center in Dexter.

She was born Oct. 28, 1910, at Eupora, Miss., daughter of James Frank and Lillie Verona Miles McCain. She and Lonnie E. Fortner were married Dec. 26, 1925, at Oseola, Ark. He died Dec. 24, 1968.

Fortner lived in Arkansas until 1939, when she and her husband moved to Missouri. In 1949, she and her husband moved to Dexter.

She was a General Baptist.

Survivors include four sons, Leon Fortner of Watsonville, Calif., James Fortner of Springs, Texas, Elmer Fortner of Bloomfield and Ernest Fortner of Zalma; two daughters, Marie Ellis of Harrisburg, Ill., and Mamie Lee Hesselbein of Tulsa, Okla.; a brother, Fred McCain of Vicksburg, Miss.; two sisters, Irene Jones of Vicksburg and Cora Lee Rowe of Eupora; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral chapel. The Rev. Bob Holland will officiate, with burial at Dexter Cemetery.