Barbara Fort

Barbara Jean Fort, 81, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025, following a brief stay at The McGraw Center Hospice Facility. She was born January 5, 1944, in Brunswick, Georgia, and moved to Jacksonville in 1948. Her family moved to the up-and-coming neighborhood of Arlington in 1956, where she attended the new high school, Terry Parker, graduating in 1961. She
and her husband, Bill, attended FSU, and in the school year 1963-64, Barbara was selected as Mrs. FSU.
Barbara owned and operated a daycare in Arlington in her early years. Then, she embarked on a new career in Sales in the merchant processing business during the early days after Visa and MasterCard hit the market. Barbara enjoyed being the life of the party and the center of attention, forever the social butterfly. She was an avid gardener, a talented painter, and a fashion
designer. In her younger years, she enjoyed taking cruises and playing golf. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and took great pride in sporting her red hat.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husbands, William "Bill" Nicholas Fort, Richard Fort, Doug Oman, her son Douglas Fort, and her parents, Barbara Jory Parrish and William "Dee" Ray, and her sister Pam (Don) Spanolia. She is survived
by her children, Felicia Fort (Mike Smit), Angela Fort (Jerry Ligon), and Tony (Gloria) Fort, her brother, Barry (Tonya) Parrish, her sister, Beverly (Mike) Gallegos, her brother, Billy Ray, and her nephew, Bobby (Robin) Clements, and
her granddaughter, Angelica Fort.
Patterson Funeral Service is making arrangements. A private memorial will be
held at a later date.
Donations instead of flowers may be made to the Jacksonville Humane Society or Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services.