Michael Wayne Fortenberry

Mr. Michael Wayne Fortenberry, 59, of the Salem community died Friday at his home. He had been in poor health for the past two years. Mr. Fortenberry was born Sept. 19, 1955 in Brinkley and was the son of Franklin Fortenberry and Virginia Geisler Fortenberry Byrd. He lived in the Salem community all of his life, was a cattleman and a rural letter carrier for the Forrest City Post Office. He was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church, the Rural Letter Carriers Association and the Arkansas Cattleman's Association. Mr. Fortenberry married Cindy Wood in 1974 and she survives him, along with two daughters, Brandy Fortenberry Yarbrough and husband, Landon, of Brinkley and Camille Fortenberry and fiance, Ray Schlink of Southaven, Miss.; parents, Derward and Virginia Byrd of the Salem community; one brother, Alan Byrd and wife, Devonda of Little Rock; father-in-law, Wilbur Wood and wife, Mary Dell, of Palestine and three grandchildren, Erin Smith, Hannah Yarbrough and Claire Yarbrough. He had a brother, Gary Fortenberry; sister, Karen Fortenberry Crisp and mother-in-law, Jorene Wood, precede him in death. Services for Mr. Fortenberry will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Salem United Methodist Church, with burial in the Salem Cemetery. Visitation was 5-7 p.m. Sunday evening at Stevens Funeral Home, with Stevens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. You may log on to stevensfuneralhome.net for the online registry. Memorials may be made to the Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, Derward and Virginia Byrd, 4146 Hwy 259 N., Palestine, AR 72372, or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123.