David McCown

Aug. 31, 1933 — Sept. 26, 2018

David Henry McCown, 85, of Ironton, died peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, after a long and courageous battle with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. He was born on Aug. 31, 1933, a son of the late Henry and Adrienne Tucker McCown.
He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Joanne Markins McCown; son, Kevin, of Ironton; three grandchildren, Brianna (Killian) McKelvey, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kyle, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Andrew, of Athens; two great-grandchildren, Cruz and Capri McKelvey, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; a brother, Terry (Eleanor) McCown, of Westerville; a special cousin, Joann Thomas, of Ironton; and a dear friend, James Gallagher, of Ironton.
David was preceded in death by his son, Derek, of Ironton; and two siblings, Frank McCown, of Ironton, and Jean McGurk, of Spartanburg, South Carolina.
He was a 1951 graduate of Ironton High School and received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in 1955 from Miami University in Oxford.
David proudly served as a U.S. Naval officer at the Naval Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, and then obtained his juris doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.
Upon his decision to return to his hometown, he began his legal career practicing with Elliot Meyers. A year later, he joined attorney David Crowe, forming the law firm of Crowe and McCown, now McCown and Fisher, where he practiced until his death. He practiced with his brother, Frank, and nephew, Mark, and served as a mentor to countless attorneys over the years.
David was the chairman of the Lawrence County Democratic Party for over 30 years, and delegate to the national convention; an elder, senior choir member and active member of First Presbyterian Church of Ironton for over 50 years, including teaching the adult Sunday School class for 25 years; and an avid sailor who loved to travel and spend time with his family. We will miss his candor, humor, gentlemanly civility and wisdom.
Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Ironton on Saturday, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. and the funeral service at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Ironton, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, or Community Hospice of Ironton.
Phillips Funeral Home, Ironton, is in charge of arrangements. www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

 

Jerry Fortner

May 19, 1947 — Sept. 25, 2018

Jerry Ray Fortner, 71, of Ironton, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018, at UK Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky. Jerry was born May 19, 1947, in Huntington, West Virginia, a son of the late Jack and Virginia Pyles Fortner.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Laura Pyles; and four sons, Jack Pyles, Michael Pyles, Larry Pyles and Jerry Pyles Jr.
He was a devout Christian and attended Lorain Street Gospel Ironton Mission and the House of Praise in Greenup, Kentucky. He sang and played piano and guitar in local churches.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Sandra J. Breeding Fortner; three children, Robert Fortner, Richard Armstrong and Virginia Haskins; a brother, Abe Fortner; 14 grandchildren and special grandson, William Scott Fortner, Robert Fortner Jr., Derick Fortner, Kayla Bolt, Dora Bruce, Chris Willis, Nikki DePriest, Bambi Workman, Martina Lincoln, Cody Pyles, Ryan Pyles, Tiffany Pyles, Brittany Pyles and Joann Pyles; and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home, South Point, with Elder John Pemberton and Elder Kevin Harrison officiating. Burial will follow at Docks Creek Cemetery, Kenova, West Virginia.
Friends may visit from noon-1 p.m. prior to the service Saturday at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.