Bobby Joe Fortenberry

Bobby Joe Fortenberry passed away on July 3, 2014, at his home in Sulphur, surrounded by his family. Bobby was born at home in Woodville, Texas, on January 21, 1928, to W.H. "Hill" and Faye Bingham Fortenberry. Bobby graduated from Beaumont High School in 1945 and joined the U S Army Air Corps in 1946. He came home on leave in December, 1948, and met his mother's renter, Jean Marie Bourgeois, with whom he fell in love that very day. Bobby & Jean were married on June 25, 1949.They lived in Beaumont where Bobby worked at Sears and later at the Pure Oil Refinery in Port Arthur. In 1956, the family moved to Sulphur. Bobby went to work at Cities Service at the new petrochemical plant, known as PCI, where he worked until his retirement at age 55 in 1982, when the plant was shut down. His sideline job for 20 years was a high school football official. Bobby & Jean were both active members of Immaculate Conception Church in Sulphur. Bobby taught 12th grade CCD, served as a lector, usher, and was a parish trustee.Feeling too young to retire, he accepted a job with Union Oil in Rifle, CO, and he and Jean moved to Grand Junction, CO, in June, 1982. They traveled all over Colorado & Utah on Bobby's seven days off & looked forward to vacations from their many guests - friends and family who loved to visit them both winter and summer. When Bobby retired from Union Oil at the end of 1989, he and Jean bought a country home south of DeQuincy. A few years after they moved back, his daughter gave him her old computer and he was hooked! The computer spurred an interest in genealogy. Bobby spent countless hours over the years researching not only both sides of his family, but Jean's family as well. He has many genealogy friends who will miss his wealth of knowledge. In April, 2009, they moved back to town, less than a mile from their first house in Sulphur. Bobby never met a stranger - the family joke was that he would talk to a fence post if he thought it would listen. Bobby's health declined over the last couple of years as a result of Myelodysplasia. The family would like to thank Dr. Brian Clements & Enola, Dr. Leroy Frederick & Staff, and the staff of the LCMH Outpatient Clinic, especially Jade and Allison, for their care over the past few years. A special thanks goes out to the staff of Brighton Bridge Hospice for their excellent care of Bobby and their compassion and concern for his family. Bobby is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Jean; three daughters, Karen Henderson and husband John, Margaret Wyolene Davis, Barbara Mason and husband Butch, all of Sulphur; one son, Robin Fortenberry of Houston, TX; four grandchildren, Kristi Folse (Chad), Katy Wescott (Bobby), Jeremy Gibbons (Rachel), and Ashley Dufresne (Matt); eight great-grandchildren, Taylor Henderson, Tiffanie Savage, Taylor & Hunter Folse, Ryan & Logan Wescott, and Reese & Lilian Dufresne. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother& sister-in-law, James William "Bill" & Vera Mae "Kaye" Fortenberry. Visitation will be Sunday, July 6, from 5-9 p.m. at Johnson-Robison Funeral Home in Sulphur with a Scripture service at 6 p.m. and rosary to follow. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 7 at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church with the Very Rev. Aubrey V. Guilbeau officiating. Interment will follow at Mimosa Pines South Cemetery.