YELLVILLE — Pamela E. Fortner

of Yellville, Ark., beloved daughter, wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, and aunt left this world for her heavenly home Monday, June 14, 2021, at age 70.

She was dearly loved by her family and friends and lived an extraordinary life. She was born Pamela Earlene Sherar, to the late John Sherar and Elsie May Sherar on Nov. 5, 1950, in Merced, Calif.

Pam met the love of her life, Jack Fortner, when he visited her church in 1968 and they were married for 51 years. Pam took great pride in being a loving and supportive partner and spouse to Jack. They were each other’s best friends and genuinely enjoyed each other’s company.

She also enjoyed and shared Jack’s love of cars — OK, maybe not quite the same amount as Jack, but Jack knew it was important to woo her and did name his prized 1928 Model A after her, calling her Miss Pam. Pam got up early every Saturday morning to make fresh biscuits and gravy for Jack and the other guys who were hosting the Jack the Car Guy radio program on KTLO radio.

Pam was a woman of many gifts and talents, and above all, a woman of great faith. At an early age, Pam professed her faith in Jesus and was active in church her entire life, teaching Sunday School, adult Bible studies, volunteering, singing, and playing the piano and organ. Pam loved music and was playing her favorite hymns at her home piano until the very final days of her life.

While Pam was keeping busy as a wife and mom and girl Friday for all of Jack’s businesses and endeavors, she found the time to go to college and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1990 with a degree in journalism and public relations and a minor in music. She and Jack celebrated with a trip to Ireland. She never turned down the opportunity to see and learn about something new.

Pam loved to write about their adventures and what they learned and saw as they traveled. She and Jack wrote articles for numerous publications. They loved to travel and were as comfortable on the backroads in a rented RV as they were at a beautiful hotel on the French Riviera.

Pam supported Jack in his many businesses and in his most recent career as an Arkansas state representative for District 99. She was most proud of her job as an Arkansas state legislature Red Coat. Pam loved the friends she met on the job and was always positive and in good spirits welcoming visitors to the capitol building and supporting all of the legislators. She said it was the best job she ever had!

Pam enjoyed volunteering in her community and for a number of years was the director of the Marion County Tour of Homes, which funded the Single Parent Scholarship Fund where she also served as board member. Pam was passionate about helping young women attend college and wanted to see young women achieve and have the opportunity for an education.

Jack and Pam lived many places, from California to Nevada to finally finding where they were most at home, Arkansas. Throughout their travels, Pam made many lifelong friends and they stayed in touch through Facebook, phone calls, and her colorful and detailed texts.

She was the unofficial social media director and publicist for Jack, taking pictures at events, posting witty captions and keeping friends and family up to date on their latest adventures. Pam was an avid reader and could easily read a couple of books a week if she had the time, her favorite were mysteries.

Pam is survived by her husband, the honorable State Rep. Jack Fortner; son Justin Fortner; grandchildren Jocelyn, Samantha and Hunter; great-granddaughter Lenya Harper; brothers John Sherar Jr. (Linda) and Bob Sherar (Betty); nieces Holly (Dave) and Jennifer, Jeretta (Dan), Alison (Martin) and Jennifer (Steve); nephews Kyle, Tim and Randy; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Phyllis.

Her funeral will be held at Twin Lakes Baptist Church in Mountain Home on Friday, June 18, 2021. The viewing will begin at 2 p.m. and the service will start at 3 p.m. A private burial service will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, and at Pam’s request, the family asks you to consider making a donation to the College of the Ozarks. Checks may be made payable to College of the Ozarks with a noted restriction to Pam’s scholarship which is called The Pamela Fortner Endowed Music Fund. Checks may be mailed to College of the Ozarks, Attn: Development Officer, P.O. Box 17, Point Lookout, Missouri, 65726. Gifts may also be made online at www.cofo.edu/Donate. Please mark your gift in Memory of Pamela Fortner.

Arrangements are by Roller-Burns Funeral Home in Yellville, Ark. Memories of Pam and words of comfort for her family may be shared at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com./yellville.