PALATKA DAILY NEWS
Palatka, Florida
April 18, 2017



Brittany Nicole Fortner, 24, of St. Augustine, passed away on Thursday April 13, 2017. She was born on Aug. 29, 1992, in Palatka to parents, Lou Fortner, of Hastings, and Lou Anne Dobbs Fortner, of St. Augustine. Brittany attended grade school at Cathedral Parish School followed by high school at Pedro Menendez where she played varsity tennis. She studied at St. Johns River State College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in organizational management. 

What made Brittany so special was not what she did in her shortened life, but the unique way she lived life outside the box. Brittany was a vibrant, precious soul. She had the rare blessing of still seeing the world through an unadulterated and an uncorrupted perspective. She was exceedingly positive and trusted in the goodness of all people and the world around her. Brittany was always smiling, upbeat and happy. She was perfectly content with the simple things in life - reading a book, attending concerts of her favorite bands, hiking trails, bike riding or seeing the latest movie like she did the night she was killed by a truck on Interstate 95. 

Brittany and her mom had a relationship that words cannot describe. They had a connection and love for each other that very few experience in their lifetime. They were the best and closest of friends. They did almost everything together. They traveled to nearly every state in the United States, Canada and abroad. What they enjoyed most were their camping trips. Until the recent purchase of their Runaway camper, a tent was all they needed to have a good time. 

Brittany's greatest passions were music and dance. Even at age 3 she never feared performing in front of crowds and as an adult became a certified Zumba instructor. The dance floor at parties and gatherings like the St Augustine Pier concerts was where she felt most at home especially the time she won the Best Dancer competition on a cruise! 

Brittany was going to start next week her professional career at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America. She was extremely excited about her new career opportunity; making new friends, and, as she would say succeed, at "adulting." She was so looking forward to and ready for her life to really take off which makes the timing of her death even more devastating. 

Survivors include her mother, Lou Anne Dobbs Fortner (Bobby Ritacco); father, Lou Fortner (Edna Fortner); brothers and sisters, Walter Fortner, Charlie Fortner, Tony Tyler; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She was the granddaughter of the late Thomas and Mary Dobbs, of Palatka, and the late Walter and Kathryn Fortner, of Hastings. 

The viewing will take place on Thursday April 20, at 10 a.m. with the funeral service at 11 a.m. The graveside service will be at the Espanola Cemetery near Bunnell.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Shriners Hospital for Children or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

Craig Funeral Home, Crematory and Memorial Park is in charge of arrangements.