Harold Herty Fortmayer Sr.

Harold Herty Fortmayer, Sr. entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 12:53 PM. He leaves behind his caring daughter, Emelda Ward Suffy of Barataria, LA, Cecilia Bragg of Magnolia, MS and one son, the late Harold Herty Fortmayer, Jr. who served as Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam conflict. He was married to the late Carole Russell Fortmayer. Mr. Fortmayer, Sr. was married to the late Violet James Fortmayer by 1st marriage and the late Annette LeBoeuf Fortmayer of Algiers by 2nd marriage. He was the son of the late Edward G. and Annie H. Fortmayer of Gretna. Brother of the late Hiram Fortmayer, his twin, also Edward G., Jr. and Eugene Fortmayer, sisters: Tillie Torres, Annie Schwarz, Melvinia DeFraites, Ethel Vanderbrook and Mamie Bozzelle. He is survived by 13 Grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Mr. Fortmayer was a pattern maker at Todd-Johnson Shipyard and is a retired machinist expeditor for Avondale Shipyard. An accomplished musician, he began his musical career some 75 years ago with his father's 10-piece jazz band, the Edward G. Fortmayer Band of Gretna. He went on to play lead trumpet with Celotex Band, Martin Clancy Band and Leon Kellner at the Blue Room in the Roosevelt Hotel, the 500 Club of New Orleans, marched in the Rex parades and St. Rosalie parades. He was a member and officer of the Lafitte Yacht Club, Grand Isle Fishing Rodeo, a member of Gretna German Heritage Society, St. Anthony Church, Lafitte, Little Lake Hunting Club and was honored as the oldest member of the Fortmayer Family. His trumpet was presented to the Gretna Historic Society Museum and he was presented with a Certificate of Recognition in honor of the 85th anniversary of the City of Gretna. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers: David and Bob Suffy, Louis Bourne, Dennis Bragg, Ty and Greg Fortmayer and Glenn Bourgeois, accompanied by honorary pallbearer, Robert Suffy, Sr. Relatives and friends of the family, also staff members of Progressive Home Health, Baptist Hospital, Canon Hospice, Lafitte-Barataria-Crown Point Vol. Fire Dept. Station 40 and friends along the Bayou are invited to attend a funeral Mass to be celebrated at MOTHE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 2100 Westbank Expy., Harvey, LA on Saturday, May 29, 2004 at 11 AM. Interment Westlawn Memorial Park. Parlors will be open Friday, 6 PM until Midnight and Saturday 8 AM until 11 AM. Information, 366-4343