Our beloved husband, dad, brother, grandpa and great-grandpa, Jay Eldon Fortie, 79, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully at home on January 5, 2021 in Mesa, Arizona. He was born on May 21, 1941 to Jowett Alexander and Oneta Moffitt Fortie in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the youngest of seven children.
Eldon grew up in SLC, where he attended Roosevelt Elementary, Granite Jr. High and Granite High School. He played the trumpet, sang in the choir and participated in basketball, wrestling and track. He began his football career with LaVell Edwards as his high school coach and father-figure due to his own father’s passing at a young age. He attended Brigham Young University on a football scholarship where he was BYU’s first All-American football player, nicknamed “The Phantom”. After a record setting career, his number “40” jersey was retired. He continued his career playing professional football with the Canadian Edmonton Eskimos.
He met his wife, Janice Webster, in Jr. High. They married in the Salt Lake LDS temple in 1961. They had 5 children. He started his successful and award-winning career in sales which took their family from coast to coast and in between. He was a lifelong and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in multiple bishoprics, high councils and other various callings. Eldon could always be found serving others and volunteering to help whenever needed. He loved supporting, coaching and encouraging his children, and later his grandchildren, in all of their activities. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, boating, gardening and spending time with his family. He was an advisor for the Grand Land Singers (an LDS Institute patriotic singing group) and his love of music led him to participate in several choirs, bands and performance groups. He performed with his family in the City of Joseph musical in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Eldon and Janice called Escondido, California home for 30 years where they served in the LDS San Diego Temple Presidency 2008-2011 and served a Temple Mission in Nauvoo, Illinois in 2013. They moved to Mesa, Arizona two years ago to be closer to family.
He is survived by Janice, his loving and devoted wife of almost 60 years, his four children: Kalene Day (Jeff), Darren, Lori Davey (Nate), Shauna Passey (John); his brother, John Fortie, 12 grandchildren and soon-to-be eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Jerry Layne, parents and five siblings.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 10:00 am with a viewing at 9:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 11121 E. Ray Rd, Mesa, Arizona 85212. Interment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 7900 E. Main St., Mesa, Arizona 85207. Masks and social distancing will be required.
To view the livestream of the service use this link:
Dear Sister Fortie we’re so sorry for your unexpected loss you were wonderful to serve with in Nauvoo. And to see on the zoom meeting for the reunion last year may your sweet memories comfort you and you’ll be cloaked with love of all the people you have served with and all of your family much love Greg and Gayle Gorrell
Dear Janice: It is with a heavy heart that I note the passing of Eldon. I frequently drive down 33rd South and always have pleasant memories of you, as I pass 11th East, and of Eldon, as I pass near 9th. Eldon and I were shirt-tail relatives of sorts–his sister Phyllis married my cousin Don Harrop– Don’s mom was my aunt and lived a little further west of 9th on 33rd South. I still remember Eldon having to feed his family pig, and playing sandlot football– long before we played for LaVell at Granite or became the “Phantom” whom I watched (with pride, even though I was in the Ute cheering section) as he teased the Utes when he evaded their tackle attempts. We, also, competed against each other in Church softball. He was always a fair, competitive, and exceptional person–quite aside from being a remarkable athlete.
Our love and condolences to you and all your family. We pray you peace and comfort in the exciting and wonderful memories you have from your life together. God bless—Roger and Karen Cutler
Janice and family,
We were so sorry to hear of Eldon’s unexpected passing. But at the same time we are so grateful for the time we could know him. What a blessing in so many peoples lives. How could someone be one of the best in football and the same time be as gentle and loving as he was. I will always remember him with great fondness.
Kirk Knowlton
So very sorry for your loss. This is a great loss for everyone. Janice, I hope you can carry on.
Sorry to learn of Eldon’s passing. He was such a loving, kind, fun guy. I always enjoyed being around him.. His wonderful personality was shared with everyone &
brought an inspirational light into your life. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family at this time. May the choicest blessing of the Lord be with you at this time. Hope you remember me
Your friend from our Granite High School days
Burke Wells
Dearest Janice, I’m so glad that the Fortie’s moved to Escondido and came into our lives. Hooray for tennis! and the wonderful memories we shared over those many years. We have a special connection. We each have amazing husbands to spend our eternity with. I look forward to hugging you and shedding tears of gratitude with you for our faithful and adoring men when we meet again. I love the Fortie Family. Warmly, Deborah
We attended granite high school together and prowled around together and were good friends. Lost track of each other when we graduated from high school he went one way and I went another direction. My condolences to his family sure he’ll be missed as a great guy.
We attended granite high school together and were great pals. We sort of lost track of each other when we graduated Ellen went one direction I went another. I’m sure he’ll be missed by his family please accept my condolences
Janice, you and Eldon are two of the sweetest, dearest, most caring and fun people with whom we’ve ever had the privilege to cross paths. (You are always All Stars in our eyes.) It is so hard to have an unexpected passing of a loved one. Our deepest sympathy is offered as you are parted from Eldon for a time. We love you.
Dear Janice, I’m so sorry to learn of Eldon’s passing and your loss. Please accept my sincere condolences and extend the same to your family. You are all in my heart and prayers. I’ll forever remember the love and warmth you extended me after reading of my sister Susan’s passing in 2006. You said you continue reading Salt Lake newspapers to keep abreast of friends. I’ve enjoyed seeing and hearing from you on occasion on FB. Peace and blessings to you Janice as you and your family say goodbye to your dear Eldon–for a time–sooner than we might imagine.
Love Richard and Bessie Frazier Sanborn
Gary J. Card
Janice and family: As a Former Granite High football player and classmate with Eldon I have always had the greatest admiration for Eldon and our couch Lavell Edwards. Both have had a lifetime impact on my life in their demonstration of how to be a good friend and an exemplary leader. Even though I attended Utah State University (USU) concurrently with Eldon’s amazing performances at Brigham Young University (BYU), I would cheer for BYU’s success. May God bless you and your family with comfort and healing. – Gary and Joan Card
My first (best & favorite) football hero ❤️. God bless.
Dear Janice, We are so sad to learn of Eldon’s passing. You two are a remarkable team – both in this life and moving forward into the eternities. We’re very grateful for the opportunity to get to know you both as we served in together in Nauvoo. You and your family are much loved and in our prayers!
Dear Sister Forte
So sorry to hear of your dear husbands passing . We are so grateful for the cherished memories we have of serving with you both in Nauvoo. We send lots of virtual hugs and our prayers for you and your family. We love you.
Ron and Dawn Rutowski
Dearest Janice, This is Ann Call, wife of H. Dee. I was shocked to read in the Deseret News today of Eldon’s sudden passing. I send my love and condolences to you. It has been nearly five years since H. Dee passed away of complications from diabetes. His last few years were no fun! There is no comparing the shock of a sudden passing away as Eldon just did with the long and drawn-out passing that H. Dee experienced. They are different experiences and yet the end result is the same. We are left alone. I grieved H. Dee as he died a cell at a time. It will take you a while to come to terms with Eldon’s passing. I will not ever forget your gracious friendship as we sat on the sidelines at the BYU First Ward athletic events – especially All-church Basketball. What a choice memory that is to me. May you feel the love and comfort of the Savior through this coming challenging time. I send my love and support.
I only knew Eldon, and none of his family, but I hope my comments will be of value. Due to a discontinuance of the Deseret news, I only just now saw his obituary. I like to think of myself as a somewhat macho person, but it made me cry. What a man he is. Had I known, I would have driven to Mesa for his funeral. As a Sophomore at Granite High School, he, a Senior, took me under his wing running the low hurdles. I forfeited my first offer to play football for BYU because of 6 months active duty at Fort Ord. When I finally got there in the Spring, with the varsity, only, I never felt so lonely in my life. Again, Eldon, the best player at the school, treated me better than anyone else. The greatest athlete was the kindest man. He set my standard for what a good person and great athlete is. Hal Mitchell offered me a full ride for the coming year. but I wisely left it for 2 1/2 years in the Andes Mission. What a blessing it was to see the full page article about Eldon in the South American edition of Time Magazine, in Lima, Peru. Because of LaVell, I did get back to BYU football, but Eldon remains my idea of one of the Lord’s greatest sons.
Sister Fortie,
When I was at Provo High School in the early sixties, as surprised as I was to find Eldon’s name in the Provo telephone book, I nervously made the call. Eldon-“Hello.” Me-“Is this Eldon “the Phantom” Fortie?” Eldon-chuckling, “Yes it is.” Eldon accepted my invitation to come to our Ward YM group and speak to us on “spirituality and football.” Everyone who knew Eldon would know he spoke to the youth for 40 minutes on remembering who we are and need to be.
Five minutes was spent on answering our questions about “The Phantom and football.”
I loved your husband that night for the message he shared, so unselfishly giving of his time to talk with us about the far more important things in life to him than football. I have only briefly spoken with him one other time since. And the feelings I had for him some 45 years previous came ffooding back to me. For I loved him then and I continue to love that great man today. Life is more than football. What a humbling impression he left with me some 60 years ago.
To have spent 60 years with this man I can only imagine how your family’s lives have been blessed.
Sister Fortie, may you have the blessings of peace and comfort in your life until you meet again.
John Charles
I noted this obituary in the Deseret News. While I see no mention of a mission served as a young man I believe Brother Fortie may be the same individual who as a missionary made a distinct impression on me as a youth in the New London (Connecticut ) Branch of the church. I have recalled the name over these many years in spite of having had no contact with him after serving in our area. some 60 years ago.
So sorry to hear of Eldon’s passing. He was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and was one of our favorite inductees. He will be missed!
I knew you and and my classmate so long ago. We played for LaVel and he care for all of us like children. I can still remember Eldon with a group of young boys practicing plays at Roosevelt. Great man. Sorry for your temporary loss.
I was saddened to hear of Eldon’s passing. I grew up across the street from Eldon on 33rd South. I remember helping him on his paper route at times. I also had fond memories of riding with him and his father in their Hudson to a South location when his father owned a cow and would milk it. Great Times.
Janice, I was just leafing through a copy of the Deseret News and my eye caught the name of your dear husband! I had not known of his passing and extend my love and condolences. What a lovely man he was! Always kind and gentle and interested in what was happening in your life. That actually sounds just like you too! How I loved the time that you and Joan and Heidi and I served in the Stake RS together! With love and gratitude for tender memories, Sue Blunt Nelson
Janice and family:
Our hearts go out to you as we pay tribute to Eldon’s wonderful life as a husband, father and great servant providing service to all around him in so many ways. Eldon and Darren joined my son Charlie and I to attend a BYU-UCLA football game at the Rose Bowl many years ago. We had many occasions over the years to discuss BYU sports – something we both enjoyed. He will be missed for now but we all look forward to when we will all be together again. We can just imagine the glorious reunion he is enjoying right now with family and friends. Our love and hugs to you!
Chuck & Cathy Bird
My heart is heavy learning of Eldon’s passing.
He’s a hero to me. What a treasure to have worked for him. He had great expectations and was so encouraging.
I loved how he loved his family. You knew from day one he was a man of God.
God bless all of his dear family as they mourn and celebrate a life well lived.
Much love.
So sorry to hear of Eldon’s passing. It has been many years since we worked together in SLC. I remember his friendship and quiet unassuming manner. Condolences to his family.
Dear Janice- although I am not a graduate of Granite High School, I was lucky enough to be married to a husband who thoroughly enjoyed his time at Granite, especially because of his friends, including Eldon, who become like family. I am thinking of you at this time and know that your family will be comforted with the blessings of peace and joy that come to us in times of sadness. With Love
Kendra Divine