Donald Lee Fortman, age 78, former resident of Pleasanton, Kan. and more recently of Fort Scott Manor Nursing Home, died Sunday, April 13, 2008 at Mercy Health Center. He was born Jan. 9, 1930 in Pleasanton, Kan., the son of Frank Fortman and Wilhemine Rost Fortman. Donald was a graduate of Pleasanton High School. He married Evelyn Graff on July 31, 1949 in Pleasanton. She preceded him in death on June 26, 1998. He served in the National Guard. Donald farmed on his own farm prior to retirement. He was a member of the Pleasanton First Baptist Church where he had served as Deacon. He loved to travel.

Survivors include two daughters, Susan I Fortman, Sea Cliff, New York and Sarah L. Thabet, Baldwin, New York. Also surviving are three nieces whom he raised, Ava Jordan, St. Louis, Mo., Ada Kay Feaster, Flagstaff, Ariz., and Ana Taylor, Milwaukee, Wisc.; four grandchildren, Stacy Hughes, Justin Fortman, Cole Fortman and Leif Hazlewood; four great-nieces and nephews, Jodi Feaster, Michah Feaster, Leah Backhaus and Luann Reeves; and seven great-grandchildren, Brylan, Helene, Ari, Benjamin, Krista Rose, Sairena, and Zebedee. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Ben I. Fortman; niece, Ama Merle; brother, Louis Fortman; and sister, Marie Smith.

Private family burial was in the Pleasanton Cemetery under the direction of Cheney Witt Chapel. The Rev. George Feaster will conduct memorial services at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Pleasanton First Baptist Church. Memorials are suggested to the Pleasanton First Baptist Church and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS. 66701.