Gary William Fortune

Gary William Fortune, Sr., 83, of Smiths Station, AL died peacefully on Sunday, July 2, 2023 while at Piedmont Midtown, Columbus, GA.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM (EST) on Friday, July 7, 2023 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Phenix City, AL with Father David Hamm officiating according to Vance Brooks Funeral Home, Phenix City, AL. Interment with Navy honors will follow for immediate family in Lakeview Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening at the funeral home. The Rosary will be said at 5:00 PM and the visitation will follow until 7:00PM.

Mr. Fortune was born March 24, 1940 in Gouverneur, NY son of the late Gregory William Fortune and Anna Maude Heald Fortune. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Phenix City, AL where he was on the Finance Committee. Mr. Fortune was extremely smart and had an analytical mind. He began his work career as a Draftsman at Cape Canaveral and later earned his master’s degree in Program Management. Mr. Fortune worked on numerous projects from satellites at Cape Canaveral, to missiles, to underwater fiber optic cable. He was a U. S. Navy veteran proudly serving our country as a Corpsman. After his retirement, Mr. Fortune took to Facebook to inspire and debate those who were not as “American” as he was. This is something he enjoyed greatly, and he used this
as an opportunity to teach others about our great country. We will remember him as a patriot, great provider, husband, father, grandfather and friend.

Mr. Fortune was preceded in death by his parents, Gregory and Anna Fortune; two sons, Gary William Fortune, Jr and Gregory William Fortune and a great-granddaughter, Lainey Rae Evans.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Carol Zito Fortune, Smiths Station, AL; one daughter, Shannon Fortune Hogan (Tim); five grandchildren, Justin Royce Fortune (Bailey), Brittany Nicole Fortune, T. J. Hogan (Casey), Tanner Butler (Josh) and Maddie Rae Evans (Pete); three great-grandchildren, Lily Taylor Fortune, Keelan James Hogan and Kai Samuel Hogan; and two great-grandchildren on the way, Graham Bennett Evans and Kathryn Elizabeth Hogan; several other family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made in his memory to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org.