Leslie Glenn Fortner was born August 7, 1954, in Hobbs, NM, to Edith Ann and James Leslie Fortner. He attended elementary schooling in Lovington, NM, through his freshman year and graduated from Worland High School, Worland, WY, in May of 1972.
While in school, he played football, intermural basketball, and city league baseball. He mowed lawns for extra cash and worked during the summer delivering furniture and office supplies.
Glenn joined the military out of high school, serving until December of 1976, during the Vietnam Conflict. He served on three aircraft carriers, the USS Oriskany (CV 34), the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). He served as Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class and received the National Defense Service Medal and First Good Conduct Award with an Honorable Discharge. While in the military, he married his high school sweetheart, Mara Lane Ferguson, August 24, 1973, in a military chapel on Mare Island in Vallejo, CA.
After the military, he acquired a job at Lea County Electric in Lovington, NM, working in the power plant. He changed his career path, and moved to Thermopolis, WY, opening and operating an office supply store called GlenMar Office Products. He didn’t care for the winters in Wyoming but enjoyed selling and meeting with customers. While in Thermopolis, he was a board member of the Chamber of Commerce, and secretary/ treasurer of the Kiwanis Club. He competed on Men’s City League basketball teams, and helped coach a Little League team.
A career move landed him in Billings, MT where he operated and managed an office furniture warehouse. He had a short stint in Gillette, WY, with an office supply and equipment business before a move to Lovington, NM, in 1983 landed him a job with Texaco. He began as a roustabout and worked his way up. He became an electrician and was eventually transferred to Levelland, TX, in 1992. Chevron purchased Texaco retaining Glenn as part of a merger team based out of Houston that traveled to England, Scotland and Wales. He was hoping to return to that area some day with his wife. In 2008, he moved to Midland, TX as an electrical supervisor and would end his career as a Learning and Development Trainer.
Throughout his life, Glenn coached his sons in baseball from Little League to Babe Ruth. He traveled the countryside in support of his children and later his grandchildren as they competed in academic, musical, sports, and dance activities. He himself competed on softball teams and had a dream come true when he was able to compete with all four of his sons for a season.
He was faithful to his church. He was a Board of Trustee member in Levelland, he helped sponsor youth groups, taught Sunday School, was a men’s group leader, filling in whenever and wherever asked. He was on the Board for the Pleasant Hills Children’s Home at one time.
He accepted the role of President of the Chevron Retirees Association of the Permian Basin, serving for the past 4 years. He volunteered for the Permian Basin Adult Literacy Center, where he taught and mentored people with dyslexia. He was an avid reader and volunteered for the Recording Library of West Texas. He was relief for Meals on Wheels volunteers, filling in when needed, and supported and participated in Chevron’s annual Christmas in Action activities.
He enjoyed riding bikes and rode the Paul Bunyan State Trail in Minnesota (a 240-mile round trip in 4 days) with his wife. He enjoyed plastic modeling and was proud of the fact that his oldest grandson (Jeffrey) and his oldest granddaughter (Scarlett) have gotten involved with the hobby as well. He was an avid baseball card collector, and his grandson Joel got him excited about collecting again.
He was preceded in death by his father, James Leslie Fortner, his mother, Edith Ann Fortner, his step-father Duane (Pat) Patterson, his brother, Terry Fortner, his daughter- in-law, Susan Fortner, nephew, Jared Fortner, and sisterin- law, Jodie Fortner.
He is survived by his wife Mara Lane Fortner of Midland, TX; son Jason Fortner and his wife Leanna, of Whiteface, TX, and their sons Jeffrey and wife Kaitlyn of Amarillo, TX, and Joel and wife Chloe of Amarillo, TX; son Nathan Fortner and his wife Alison, of Rockwall, TX, and their children, Jensen, Scarlett, Abigail, William, and Emma; son Eric Fortner and his wife Misty, of Lubbock, TX, and their children, Everest, Willa, and Nina; son Trevor Fortner and his wife Morgan, of Big Spring, TX, and their sons Ashor and Cassius.
Honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren, Jeffrey, Joel, Jensen, Scarlett, Everest, Willa, Nina, Ashor, Cassius, Abigail Wright, William Wright, and Emma Wright.
Family received friends on Wednesday, May 14, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Calvary Assembly of God Church, 908 Johnston St., Midland, TX.
A Celebration of Glenn’s Life will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, May, at Calvary Assembly of God Church, with Pastor Brad Smith officiating. Arrangements under the direction of Willowbrook Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Midland. To place online condolences, please visit www.willowbrk.com.
Memorials may be given to Pleasant Hills Children’s Home, PO Box 1177, Fairfield, TX 75840.