Joann Howerton Fortson, 81, passed away Friday, Dec. 1, 2017.
She was born Nov. 13, 1936, in Raymondville, daughter of Charley Robin and Grace Smallwood Howerton. She married James Fortson in Conway, Ark. They later divorced.
She attended grade school in Raymondville and graduated from Houston High School in 1954.
She was saved at age 15 and was baptized July 20, 1952, at Raymondville Baptist Church.
She worked for Dr. T.J. Burns in Houston before moving to South Dakota and working in a clinic. Upon returning to Houston, she worked at Texas County Memorial Hospital.
In the early 1960s, she moved to Conway, Ark. She worked at Conway Regional Hospital while also taking classes to become a LPN.
In 2014, she moved to Salem Place Nursing Home in Conway, Ark.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include two brothers, Don Howerton of Mountain Grove and Nolan Howerton of Raymondville; a sister, Donna Ramsey of Mountain Grove; and many other family members.
Cremation was under the direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Conway, Ark. Burial will be in Allen Cemetery, Raymondville, at a later date.
