Nicki Lynn Fortney

Nicki Lynn Fortney, born November 27, 1957 was delivered to her parents Fred and Ruth Fortney as a bundle of joy. She left us to be with her Lord February 8, 2021.
Nicki really liked animals and it was only fitting that her aunts and uncles had farms that she visited. She spent time riding and caring for horses and developed a close relationship with her cousins. She enjoyed helping with any other task that may be asked of her.
Nicki also had family pets that were very much loved by her. She loved expressing herself through poetry and was published in a couple of magazines.
Her mother kept her busy with Girl Scouts, swimming and anything that would help broaden Nicki’s life. Nicki continued this into her own life by helping anyone she could. She cared for and visited many people over the years which brought them joy and the comfort.
Nicki had a strong interest in music and played the violin well. She took orchestra in school where she made new friends that have become very dear to her.
Nicki came across a vintage spinning wheel and taught herself to spin wool and would knit friends and family hats and scarves.
Nicki expanded her family through her church and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1974 and enjoyed the activities, community and fellowship she found there. She served a mission for the church in the Fresno, California mission in 1995-96.
She assisted her father with his family genealogy, doing research, identifying photos, copying stories and archiving these items. Nicki began doing the same for her mother’s family and her own Native American genealogy. She learned that her family was much bigger.
She struggled with celiac disease throughout her life and she became a stronger person because of it. Nicki was always a gentle person with a warrior spirit. She was never self-centered or boastful. She stood proud. A friend described her as light as a butterfly and yet as sturdy as a sequoia and her wisdom was quiet but strong.
Nicki is survived by many cousins, a step sister-Pat Walker, step brother-Robert Jacobs, a sister from her Native American family-Sylvia Eull and many nieces and nephews.
“Angel” and “Gem” would be words to describe Nicki.
NOTE: The family wishes to state a special thank you to Nicki’s friends and in particular her dear friend Kathaleen Colton May for assisting Nicki with her mother Ruth’s in-home care and remaining with Nicki to care for her during this very hard time in Nicki’s life.