Ellis F. Fort

In Loving Memory of Butch "Al" Fort, Ellis F. Fort, Jr. Ellis Franklin Fort Jr, born May 18, 1944, of Waldo, FL, passed away on July 25, 2020, in Gainesville, FL. He was 76 years of age. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, July 30th 2020, in the Veterans Section at Forest Meadows Cemetery East, 3700 SW Hawthorne Road, Gainesville, FL, 32641. Flowers can be sent to Forest Meadows Funeral Home at 725 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606. Butch/Al was born in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 18, 1944. Butch is preceded in death by his parents Ellis F. Fort Sr, Edith V. Fort and brother Kenneth "Boo Boo" Fort. He is survived by his wife Juanita Fort of 36 years and siblings Jimmy Forte (Lois Forte) and Ronald "Ronny" Fort (Deanne Myer). While Butch and Juanita have no children together, they share children on his side, Lissa (Fort) Trevino (Robbie Trevino), Ellis F. Fort III (Jaqualine Fort), Patrick Fort, Katrina Fort, Benjamin Fort (Zoila Fort). On Juanita's side, children Frank Weaver (Kimberly Weaver), Pam and Tammie. They have 21 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Butch's first wife Gale Skoglund and second wife Eileen Emmers. As a child Butch was a baseball star athlete playing in the little league world series, state championships and the fastest pitcher around Maryland. He was a Major League Contender for the Baltimore Orioles until an injury kept him from signing on. He was known to locals as a baseball super talent. He graduated from Gainesville High and also attended Annapolis High School. He was married to Juanita Fort for 36 years. He worked as a General Contractor in Residential/Commercial Construction for the majority of his adult life. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in the United States Navy. He will be missed by so many. He lived a hard life in his later years, plagued with health problems but fought through the ailments courageously. He was known as a helper to the less fortunate, a feline lover, a do-it yourself of all things (before YouTube), for his sense of humor with a thunderous laugh, a bass fisherman, a baseball aficionado, a Florida Gator fan. He enjoyed spending every waking moment with his wife Nita, talking at the dinner table about life/the day/the kids/the news/the weather/the cats. They created a life together that was love and peace for themselves. He is known to brag about his kids constantly, proud and happy for their successes, and would do all he could for them when they were less fortunate. The family of Ellis Fort Jr. wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Toby Evans and Brenda Hilderbran. They have been amazing in the last few months in assisting him and Juanita daily life activities and needs. A true blessing in his last days.

Ellis F. Fort

July 28, 2020