Helen Fortner, age 79, of Nixa, passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2024. She was born on September 28, 1944, in the home if her parents, Burnice and Velma Inman.  She enjoyed a happy childhood on the farm in the Pedelo settlement of Rogersville. Helen accepted the Lord at the age of 7 at Springhill Baptist Church of Rogersville and had been a member of Crossway Baptist Church for many years.

After graduating from Rogersville High School in 1962, Helen moved to Kansas City. She began her career with Hallmark Cards then spent 30 years with Yellow Freight System in Overland Park, KS. She had wonderful memories of those years and remained friends with many of her co-workers. Helen spent 20 years enjoying weekends and vacations at the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks and still enjoyed visiting there with her long-time friend, Joyce Christensen.

Helen and Larry Fortner were high school sweethearts at Rogersville, but life took them in different directions. They didn’t marry until October of 1997, but after that, they were partners in every sense of the word. They worked and played together, and you rarely saw one without the other. Larry survives her with this sentiment, “To the world Helen was just one person, but to Larry, she was the world”.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Bobby Inman, and a sister, Juanita Goodman. Survivors include her husband, Larry Fortner and their “shared children”, Allen Fortner & wife Dana of Republic and Ann Willingham of Clever; grandchildren, Ciara and Coty Shupp, Dakota & Danielle Fortner, Leslie & Larry Keithley and Jayme and Josh Wisdom; and five great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Joe Inman and wife Othena of Sparta.

Helen dearly loved all her nieces and nephews and claimed them as additional children. She was always willing to give them advice whether they thought they needed it or not. You never had to wonder what was on her mind. She was happy to tell you. She loved to laugh and make others laugh.

Visitation will be at 10:00 AM, Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole St., Springfield, MO, Friday, January 19, with services to follow at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in the Sparta Cemetery.

Helen had a fierce love of all animals (although she didn’t trust horses, and they knew it). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, 1328 W. Sunshine, Springfield, MO 65807.