Dr. Kay Fortson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Dr. Frances "Kay" Fortson, 91 of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed from this life on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 in a Tulsa hospital. She was born on January the 9th of 1931 in Maude, Oklahoma to her parents, Kenneth Kelly Kenney and Mary Frances Hornback Kenney. Dr. Fortson is survived by two daughters, Debra Scott of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Laura Keefer and her husband Bob of Edmond, Oklahoma; two sisters, Evelyn Hayes of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Karen Gale and her husband Bill of Mount Dora, Florida; and a host of friends and extended family members that loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Ed Scott and Homer Fortson; her son, David Glenn Scott; and her sister, Ruth Mulligan. Life has thrown major challenges at Kay Fortson. She lost her first husband, Ed Scott, when their baby, Laura, was eight weeks, Deby was 2, and Dave was 3 ½. Within the past decade, Kay survived facial cancer, lost her second husband, Homer Fortson, experienced the closing of Phillips before she was ready to retire, and watched lung cancer take the life of Dave. And yet she would say, “I have so much to be thankful for.” (Oops-since she was an English professor, she probably said, “I have so much for which to be thankful.”) Born in Maud, Kay Kenney was the first of four daughters. Her father’s work moved them often, but in fifth grade, Tulsa became her “hometown.” Her father liked Tulsa and changed jobs, rather than be transferred again. At 12, Kay was baptized in Tulsa’s First Baptist Church. She graduated from Central High and received a full scholarship to the University of Tulsa. As a freshman, Kay and a “blind date” double-dated with junior Ed Scott and his date. Kay and Ed decided they liked each other better than the ones they were with, and at the end of the school year, she dropped out of college to marry him. Ed graduated in petroleum engineering. During the next few years, Ed’s work in the oil fields took them to towns in Louisiana and Texas. Unfortunately, Ed contracted encephalitis at Borger, Texas, and died, leaving Kay with three little ones. Moving back to Tulsa, Kay and the children lived with her parents and younger sisters while she got back on her feet and re-enrolled at TU. When Kay talked about her blessings, she always mentioned family. Kay was attracted to education through working with her own children at home and children and adults at Memorial Baptist Church in Tulsa. English classes were her favorites, and she began to feel God was leading her to teach English. While completing work on her M.A., she was contacted about a possible job by Margaret Edwards, head of the English Department at Phillips. She applied but did not get an immediate response. In the meantime, she was offered a job at Central High. On the very day she had to give Central an answer, a letter arrived from Phillips offering her the job. Kay began her teaching career at Phillips in the fall of 1962, along with other long-time UPCC members, Bob Simpson, Harold Hatt, and John Sayre. It was not until 1964, however, that she became a member of University Place. The move from First Baptist Church, Enid, to UPCC happened “when we married Homer,” according to Kay’s daughter, Deby. Homer Fortson, Business Manager at PU and a board member at University Place, invited Kay to the Enid Rotary Club Valentine Party, and they were married the following summer. Having already reared two daughters with his deceased wife, Louise, Homer gladly became father to Dave, 11, Deby, 9, and Laura, 7; “They quickly accepted him as Daddy, and he was such a good father to them,” Kay said. With Homer’s help at home, Kay completed her Ph.D. at TU. After Homer retired they spent one semester in Japan, where Kay taught English at PU-J. Since “converting” from Baptist to Disciples, Kay has been very faithful in her attendance and work at UPCC. She and Homer were members of the Christian Century Sunday School Class, and for several years, she taught a junior high class. She served as a Permanent Fund Manager, and she was an active Elder. Each year she decorated a table for the women’s luncheon. In the larger community, Kay reviewed books for the Oklahoma Libraries program, “Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma.” She was also active in a book club and a bridge club. Kay had a great deal of self-discipline, which was apparent to anyone who knew her exercise schedule. Because of back problems, which she was convinced would disable her if she did not, she followed a rigorous regimen upon arising each morning. It was her faith, however, that was the secret to her ability to overcome tragedy and to feel God’s loving guidance in her life. She trusted God’s purposes and believed God’s grace was sufficient. And she believed in the present and future of University Place. “God has blessed us and will guide us,” she said, “as we do whatever we are meant to do with this ministry.” There are no services scheduled at this time. The family has requested memorials be made in Dr. Kay Fortson's honor to Phillips University Legacy Foundation by going to: https://phillipsuniversitylegacyfoundation-bloom.kindful.com/

Dr. Kay Fortson

January 9, 1931 - July 20, 2022