Monteen Murdock Fortson

OBITUARY INFORMATION

Mrs. Monteen Murdock Fortson, age 87, of Boaz, died on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Huntsville Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Sardis Baptist Church. The visitation will be Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 11o’clock am until service time at the church

Doris Monteen Murdock (“Monteen” or “Teen”) was born in Boaz, Alabama on March 29, 1938, to Elizabeth Jenkins and Earnest Patton Murdock. She grew up with four siblings: Evelyn, Billy, Linda, and Glenda and remained close to all of them throughout her life. On July 14, 1955, she married Hubert Royce Fortson (“Royce”) of Albertville, Alabama. They were married for more than 70 years.

Monteen and Royce moved to Fort Lewis, Washington, where Royce was stationed with the Army. They welcomed their daughter, Deborah, in 1956, while they were in Washington, and after Royce’s service ended, they moved to Tucson, Arizona before returning to Boaz in 1959, where they made their home for the rest of Monteen’s days. Monteen and Royce then welcomed their son Jeff in 1959 and David in 1964. She worked as a salesclerk and raised their children while Royce maintained a career with Goodyear until his retirement.

Monteen was famous for her cooking, and she would make full breakfasts each morning for her family – biscuits, gravy, eggs and bacon – even if it meant waking up at 4AM before Royce’s shifts. No family event was complete without her chocolate pie or coconut cake. Her Thanksgiving dressing and fried okra were legendary.

One of Monteen’s greatest joys in life was being “Mama Teen” (spelled various ways over the years) to her seven grandchildren: Taylor, Anna Lee, Ben, Caleb, Andrew, Evan, and Sarah Katherine, and to her 8 great-grandchildren. She became a mother and a grandmother very young, which allowed her many decades with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The joys of a summer visit to Mama Teen’s house could not be beaten. On the schedule: “Break cakes,” Neapolitan ice cream, half-sticks of gum slid over to us during Sunday sermons, and endless reruns of Tammy. Mama Teen made each of us feel special and loved.

Monteen and Royce shared a spirit of adventure and loved to travel. No drive was too long – long-hauls to Arizona for visits with Royce’s family to moving their granddaughter to Texas to their many vacations in the Smoky Mountains, they were always on the go. For decades after Royce’s retirement, they traveled all over the United States in their travel trailer visiting state parks together, and camping with friends and family.

Monteen loved to play dominos and card games. Family holidays and vacations weren’t complete without late nights of intense competition around the dining room table. She suffered from many physical ailments throughout her life – she famously survived something like 50 surgeries! – but she was dedicated to living as fully as possible. She was playful and fun, but she was never afraid to raise an eyebrow and tell you exactly how she felt about it (whatever “it” may have been!)

Most importantly, Monteen was a devoted follower of Christ. Monteen was a member of Sardis Baptist Church for more than 50 years, where she served in many capacities such as the women’s ministry and vacation Bible School. She never missed an opportunity to pray for her children and grandchildren and to remind them that serving Jesus will bring the greatest joy in life.

Monteen was a remarkable woman who spent her life in Christian service to her family, her friends, and her church community. Her legacy lives on through all the people she loved. Though we are mourning her loss here on earth, we rejoice in her complete healing and in the hope that we will one day be reunited with her in heaven.

Mrs. Fortson is survived by her husband, Royce Fortson of Boaz, daughter Deborah Lynn (Mike) Wilson of Alabaster, sons Jeffrey Royce (Angie) Fortson of Trussville and David Andrew (Sonya) Fortson of Tennessee, 7 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, sisters Linda Braswell of Boaz and Glenda (Sonny) Lacey of Sardis, and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earnest and Elizabeth Murdock, sister Evelyn Claburn and brother Bill Murdock.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations to Gideon’s International.

Written with love by Anna Lee Alford Newby