Isaac "Ike" FORTNER

Isaac William "Ike" Fortner, age 99, of Newport, OR, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on August 5, 2025.

Dad was born on June 23, 1926, at Waitts Lake, WA. He was the middle of nine children born to Clarence James and Evelyn May Fortner. While he was still a toddler, the family moved to the Jim Creek Valley near Arlington, WA, where he grew up. Dad graduated from Arlington High School in 1944.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and served over seven years. While in Korea, he was a mechanic responsible for maintaining and repairing all kinds of wheeled and tracked vehicles. A few years ago, during a visit to a museum, Dad saw an Army dump truck from the Korean War and joked that he "hadn't made its acquaintance" while he was there.

After leaving the Army, Dad began his career as a diesel mechanic, working on truck fleets for P.I.E. and Lucky Stores. In 1956, Dad married Ruth Louise "Ruthie" Smith. Their first home was in Buena Park, CA, where their family was completed with four children.

In 1966, Ike and Ruth moved their family to Chattaroy, WA. Dad embraced "homesteading" their 5½ acres with an orchard, berry patches, and a large garden. He volunteered with the Boy Scouts and was a dedicated supporter at his children's school sports events. Dad worked at Williams Equipment Company in Spokane until his retirement in 1988.

Nearly every morning, Dad got up early to make his family a hot, home-cooked breakfast. He was an excellent cook, with his buttermilk biscuits a special favorite for all - a tradition he continued until just a couple of years ago.

After retiring, Dad built his "dream woodshop," where he spent many happy hours making a profusion of tables, chairs, clocks, cradles, step stools, rolling pins, rocking horses, and other toys for his siblings, children, and grandchildren.

Dad moved to Lebanon, OR, a couple years after Ruthie died in 2012. His sister, Dorothy, lived with him there for a couple of years. He then lived with daughter, Sandy, and son-in-law, Alan, for seven years. Dad spent the last year living at OceanView Senior Living in Newport, OR.

Ike was always friendly and is fondly remembered by many neighbors and staff - even from long ago. He loved telling stories from his childhood, often sprinkling in sayings passed down from his father, along with a few of his own greatest hits. Among his favorites: "There are only two kinds of pie I like: hot and cold," and when a meal didn't quite meet his standards, "That was a crop failure."

Ike is survived by his children:?Freda Hoskins of Deer Park, WA,?Patrick (Sara) Fortner of Beaverton, OR,?Sandy (Alan) Cobb of Newport, OR, and?Don Fortner of Spokane, WA.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-grandchildren; his twin sister, Doris Price; sister, Judy Begeman; and brother, David Fortner.

He was preceded in death by Ruthie, his beloved wife of 56 years; his grandson, Adam Guffin; son-in-law, Bob Hoskins; brothers, Ted Fortner and George Fortner; and sisters, Joyce Smith, Dorothy Larsen, and Ellen Brasfield.

A man of quiet strength, warm humor, and generous hands, Ike will be fondly remembered and deeply missed. He will be interred at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, beside his wife, Ruthie. The Fortner family extends heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate team at OceanView Senior Living, who cared for him with dignity and warmth. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Ike's name.