John Fortner Jr.

Funeral Services for John Fortner, Jr., 91, Arapaho resident will be held 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, March 10, 2020 in the Kiesau Memorial Chapel, officiated by Dan Day. Burial will conclude in the Prairie Belle Cemetery in Putnam, OK under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. John William Fortner, Jr., was born December 28, 1928 to John W. Fortner and Lillie A. (Lewis) Fortner in Putnam, Oklahoma and passed away Thursday, March 5, 2020 in the Emergency Room of the Clinton Alliance Health. John was raised in Putnam, OK and graduated from Putnam High School in 1947. He then attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with combined economics and a music degree. During this time he worked as an accountant for the Lee Truck Lines. He married Betty Ray Burrows in 1951, after meeting her in Lubbock, TX. He was soon called by Mrs. Frank Stamps to teach Piano at the Stamps School of Music in Dallas, TX. Upon arrival he soon became the official piano player for the famous Stamps Quartet. While working as chief business manager for the Hunt Brothers, he would cross the street for a live radio show with the Stamps every working dat at noon. Betty and John had three children – William Shook of Sanford, North Carolina; Deborah Milacek of Waukomis, OK and Kevin Shook of San Antonio, TX; a sister Joy Palmer, Elk City, OK and several grandchildren. After five years John moved back to Custer County, at the request of the Hunts, to become the business manager of the new Foss Dam Project. After this, he became the Director of Clinton’s Tuberculosis Sanitarium for twelve years. While back in Clinton/Arapaho John established a national known American Quarter Horse breeding program, at one time standing 3 AQHA Champions – Mr. Easter Boy, Boy’s Ranch and Skippy Skip, through the 1960’s and 70’s. One of the highlights of John’s musical career is playing for the Billy Graham Crusade when it came to Oklahoma City in 1951. Through playing always for God’s glory, as he said, in many churches through the years including Buddy Holly’s Church in Lubbock, TX, John’s abiding and enduring devotion was to his loving friends and to his various duties within the Masonic Lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star, serving for 25 years as Secretary to the Masons, and also Worship Master. His willing Participation as a great musical force added much to the life of Oklahoma’s Lodges for many years. John ended his years of musical service to the Lord, Playing each Sunday to the church he dearly loved, because of its people, Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, on the beautiful hill southeast of Clinton. He was a Mason for over 58 years, held numerous offices at the state and local chapter level, he served as secretary many times and the Grand Musician; he was a 52 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, served several times as the Session Grand Organist as well as being a Grand Escort and a Grand Representative.