Gayle Fortenberry

Gayle (“DON'T CALL ME BILLIE!”) Fortenberry was born March 15, 1931, in Ballinger, Texas, the oldest child of Ervin Leslie and Eva Francis Hale. Ninety years later, on July 13, 2021, she walked into that Great Casino in the Sky and headed straight for the craps tables, where she immediately ordered a whiskey sour. Later there would be a lingering visit with the boys at Thunder Down Under. She closed her eyes for the last time listening to her all-time favorite, Elvis Presley, croon “Love Me Tender.” Our Nanny was one crackerjack of a woman. She was preceded in death by her parents, by brother Eddie Hale (who delighted in tormenting her by calling out, “Billie Gayle!” whenever he saw her) and by son-in-law Bobby Elmore. She is survived by daughter Karen Reeves and her husband Jim, son Steve Allen and his wife Margie, daughter Cindy Elmore, and daughter Dana Rainwater and her husband Mark. She is also survived by grandchildren Dirk Reeves and wife Daphine, Brett Reeves and wife Melissa, James Reeves and wife Shannon, Jeremy Reeves, Stephanie Stewart and husband Sean, Ryan Allen, Shane Bold and wife Kristen, Matt Elmore, Misty Emms and husband Nathan, Ashley Rainwater and Courtney Rainwater; and 22 great grandchildren. Oh, and one more: “Bestie” Cyndy Jones. Gayle wasn't just a grandmother to her grandchildren and great grandchildren; she was “Nanny” to everyone, even the bartenders at Outback. She loved family gatherings, playing games, Elvis, Vegas, laughing and road trips with Cyndy. If there was a party going on, Gayle wanted to be right in the middle of it and often was. In her younger years, she was the Queen of The Push on dance floors from San Angelo to the Grand Prairie strip. She was a strong woman, holding her family together as a single mother/grandmother for much of her life. Gayle survived polio, melanoma, breast cancer, Parkinson's and two husbands. She took up parasailing at 84 and had a Sex on the Beach (or three) to celebrate afterwards. We lift our own toast to a remarkable, irreplaceable mother, grandmother and friend, and will laugh and cry as we share the wonderful memories.