of Little Rock, AR

June 30, 1930 - November 12, 2018

Maxine Beaty Fortenberry of Little Rock, Arkansas died November 12, 2018 at Valley Ranch Nursing Home. Mrs. Fortenberry 88 years old was born in St. Johns, Arizona, June 30, 1930. She was reared at Viney Grove and Prairie Grove in Northwest Arkansas.

She is survived by two sons and their families: David Fortenberry, his wife, Karen A. Fortenberry and two daughters, Anna and Katie Fortenberry all of Little Rock; and Don Fortenberry, his wife, Melody M. Fortenberry and their daughter, Megan and their son, Eric Fortenberry all of Dallas. Other survivors include nieces and nephews and their families: Debbie Beaty Sherwood and Kim Beaty Pineda of Iowa, Susan Beaty Pambianco of Seattle, Washington, George F. Boatright, Jr., Neil Boatright of San Francisco; Mark Boatright and Lisa Boatright King, of Virginia. Mrs. Fortenberry is also survived by cousins, Janis Jackman Gilley, Jackie Gilley Davis all of Fayetteville, Cindy Thurman Pattillo of Plano, Texas and sister-in-law, Joann Beaty Prosser and husband, Mike Prosser of Burlington, Iowa and Naples, Florida.

Maxine Fortenberry was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, John Fortenberry; parents, Martin Elbert Beaty and Virgie Zinn Beaty and cousin, A.M. Zinn. She was also predeceased in 1993 by her brother, Robert Leon Beaty of Burlington, Iowa, by her sister, Juanita Beaty Boatright of Lynchburg, Virginia in 1997, and by her cousins, Viola Zinn Jackman of Fayetteville in 2008 and Carol Jackman Thurman of Little Rock in 1998.

A graduate of Prairie Grove High School with valedictory honors, Mrs. Fortenberry graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas,Fayetteville, with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree, January 1951. While earning her degree, she worked part-time as secretary for the band director and the head of the music department.

In the early 1950's, Maxine Fortenberry taught elementary music in the Fayetteville Schools and music and English at Annie Camp Junior High in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Working as a volunteer at Williams Elementary School in Little Rock, she helped to organize and catalog a new library. In the late 1970' s, she worked as Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Membership Secretary and as Secretary to the Senior Minister, Dr. James B. Argue.

Mrs. Fortenberry was very active in musical and cultural organizations. She was a member of the Arkansas Federation of Music Clubs since 1955 holding many offices and chairmanships including state treasurer, 1964-68 and state president, 1975-77. A major project during her presidency was coordinating Arkansas Days in Washington, D.C. as part of the Nation's Bicentennial celebration, an event that included a concert by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in the Kennedy Center, Kurt Klippstatter, Conductor, Mignon Dunn, soloist, and concerts around the city by four Arkansas high school and college groups. Mrs. Fortenberry was presented the Arkansas Federation of Music Clubs Outstanding Service Award in 1986. She served the National Federation of Music Clubs in various capacities including District Coordinator, Rating Chairman and American Music Month Chairman-four years in each position.

Mrs. Fortenberry was active in two local music clubs-from 1955 to 962 and from 1979 to 1982 she was a member of the Nocturne Club, Jonesboro, Arkansas. She has been an active member of the Little Rock Musical Coterie from 1962 to the present. She served in various offices and chairmanships including the presidency of both clubs. While Maxine Fortenberry was president of the Musical Coterie, and with work of Mrs.George Trapp, a reciprocal relationship was formed with the Arkansas Arts Center. For about ten years starting in 1968 Musical Coterie held its monthly meetings at the Arts Center and presented musical programs there for the public.

In addition to music clubs and the Arts Center, Mrs. Fortenberry was a volunteer with Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony, Eureka Springs, Arkansas (now Opera of the Ozarks), Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild, Arkansas Opera Theater Guild, Community Concerts Association and the PTA.

Maxine Fortenberry was a soprano soloist singing in music club programs including several grassroots opera productions. In addition, she was a soloist in other groups-collegiate choirs, community choral groups and her church choirs for a total of 45 years.

With her husband John, Maxine Fortenberry was co-author of a comprehensive history of the Fortenberry family. The book titled The Fortenberry Family in Arkansas was published in 1997 and accepted for the Library of Congress in Washington, D. C. The book can also be found in the Mormon Library in Salt Lake City and numerous libraries in Arkansas, including the archives at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, the Central Arkansas Library and the Arkansas History Library in Little Rock.

Mrs. Fortenberry also wrote a history of her family, The Beaty and Zinn Families in Northwest Arkansas. In it she traced one branch of her ancestry to the Crawford and Edmiston families who were among the first settlers in Cane Hill in Northwest Arkansas in 1829. Her family history, published in 2007 is in the Mormon Library at Salt Lake City, the University Archives at Fayetteville, other libraries in Northwest Arkansas and in Central Arkansas including Central Arkansas Library and Arkansas History Library in Little Rock.

Maxine Fortenberry and her husband, John were privileged to visit some of the great sight-seeing destinations of this country and abroad. They traveled to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, South America and Europe, including twice attending the Great Passion Play at Oberammergau in Germany. One of the six trips they made to Europe was a two-month journey that traversed Europe from western Wales to Greece and Istanbul, Turkey.

Maxine Fortenberry was a life-long Methodist with her church always having a strong priority. Although music club work was of great importance, her first commitment and loyalty was the church choir. The family heritage of Mrs. Fortenberry and her parents and grandparents was Methodism. Her grandfather, Rev. Jacob Albert Zinn, IV was a Methodist minister in Texas and Northwest Arkansas, and her great-grandfather, Rev. Shadrach Monroe Casteel was also a Methodist preacher. Maxine Fortenberry was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock for 56 years. (all but 3 years since 1962 to the present) She was a member and soprano soloist of PHUMC Sanctuary Choir for 29 years. She also worked in the education program, including adult Sunday School teacher and she helped with the writing and editing of the 75-year anniversary history of her church.

A memorial service at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 16, 2018 at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church with Rev. Britt Skarda officiating. Graveside service will be 3:00 p.m., Friday at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Newport, Arkansas

Memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, Endowment Fund, 4823 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205 or Little Rock Musical Coterie Scholarship Fund.

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