Louis Fortenberry

CAIRO, Ill. -- Louis H. Fortenberry, 67, of Cairo died Thursday, April 15, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Jan. 11, 1937, in Gulfport, Miss., son of John and Blanche Schmitz Fortenberry.

Fortenberry was a graduate of St. Vincent's College High School in Cape Girardeau and St. Mary's Seminary in Perryville, Mo.

He was ordained a Catholic priest in June 1964. He received a master's degree in English from DePaul University and was a doctoral candidate in English at the University of Denver.

Fortenberry taught at DePaul Academy, Chicago, St. Louis and Cardinal Glennon College in St. Louis, and retired as principal of St. Joseph School in Cairo. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his wife, Tina; two daughters, Elizabeth and Teresa Fortenberry of Cairo; two sons, Joseph and William Fortenberry of Cairo; four sisters, Mary Drozd and Dorothy Smolski of Middletown, Conn., Virginia Fortenberry of Salisbury, Md., Elizabeth Coleman of Gulf Shores, Ala.; three brothers, the Rev. Jerome Fortenberry of Cairo, John and Dr. Robert Fortenberry of New Orleans, La.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.

Friends may call at St. Patrick's Church from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday. The rosary will be recited at 7:30.

Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Fortenberry, Monsignor Bill McGhee and the Rev. Charles Prost officiating.

Visitation will also be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Monday at Christ the Savior Catholic Church at Brewer, Mo., followed by a graveside service at the church cemetery.

Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements.