Earnie Welch Forte

August 10, 2009

Earnie Welch Forte, age 89 of Pensacola, Florida passed away on Thursday August 6, 2009 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born May 2, 1920 in Crenshaw County Alabama to Robert and Fannie Lou Joiner Welch. She was the sixth of twelve children. In the mid 1920’s the family moved to the Pineview-Foshee Community in Escambia County Alabama.

She grew up in the country where they learned how to live on what could be raised, grown, canned, cured or made. Even as children her family worked hard and had great respect and love for eachother. She went to work at the Train Depot in Flomaton.. Later she transferred to the Depot in downtown Pensacola, Florida.

She married George Murl Forte on August 9, 1940. After their first child was born, George joined the Aircorp and became a Paratrooper to prepare for World War II. She raised their son alone and endured when her husband was listed as Missing in Action and then a Prisoner of War. She always knew that George would return and finally he did come home. They continued their life together, having five more children. When George died in 1965, she was left with four young children still at home. Everything she did was for her children and grandchildren.

She welcomed everyone into her home, a place of refuge, a place of comfort. You were greeted with ‘hey Sweetheart’ and a hug. You were welcome to stay for a quick lunch or stay for days. She was always looking for her children to come home. She had a meal and a glass of sweet tea waiting just for you. No matter how long you could stay she made you feel special. She made sure that you had what you came for, a meal, advice, a kind word or a hug. The last thing she always said was ” come back when you will” while standing on her front porch waving good-bye until you drove out of sight.

She was a member of Olive Baptist Church and a past member of the Jolly Rovers.

Our most precious Mama and Mamaw is welcomed in Heaven by her husband George, her grandson Kevin White, her Mama and Papa, her brothers Ray, Cyril, Bennie, Thomas and Leroy Welch, her sisters Avis White, Clara Mae Morris, Versie Crissman and Louise Forte.

She awaits the arrival of her children: Robert (Alice) Forte, Charlotte Lavonia Swearingen, Sandra (Galen) Carver, Ricky (Boopie) Forte, Roger (Tricia) Forte, Shirley (Pat) Callan.

Her grandchildren: Alisa (Scott) White, Robbie (Steve) Egee, Wendy (TJ) Aliff, Chad (Kathy) Copeland, Jenny (Eddie) Hernandez, Emily (Ben) Ferguson, Dacia (Barry) Bailey, Amber Dasho, Brian Forte, Brain (Ashley) Callan, Adam (Stephanie) Callan.

Her great grandchildren: Jonathan White, Seth and Olivia Egee, Thomas, Jared and Adam Aliff, Courtney Anderson and Sammy Hernandez, Autumn, Bailey and Benjamin Ferguson, Taylor Forte and Andrew Bailey and Conner Callan.

Survivors also include her sister Mary Frances Godwin of Century and her brother Everette Welch of Flomaton.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment with the Rev. Nicholas Gandy officiating. Interment is at Barrancas National Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Steve Egee, Scott White, TJ Aliff, Eddie Hernandez, Ben Ferguson and Barry Bailey. Honorary pallbearers will be Chad Copeland and Brian Forte.

Thank you to our extended family and friends for your prayers and kind words.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries