Phyllis Carter Fort

Phyllis Carter Fort, aged 89, died on Thursday, July 9, 2020, at Wedgewood Estates Senior Living Community in Mansfield, Ohio.

Phyllis was born on April 7, 1931 in Detroit, MI to Arthur J. & Dorothy (Custer) Young. As an infant, her mother died in an automobile accident leaving behind three young children. Her father remarried Julianna Jamrozy creating a new blended family that included Phyllis, her brother, her sister, two step-siblings and two half-sisters. Phyllis grew up in the Detroit area and was a 1949 graduate of Denby High School.

Phyllis married Arnold J. Carter in March of 1951. After starting their family, they moved to Shelby, OH in 1967. Her focus and joy in life was to raise and care for their family of 4 children. Her caring and generous spirit also inspired her to volunteer in a variety of ways. As a young mother, Phyllis had aspirations to attend college and, at the age of 48, she began taking classes at North Central Technical College in Mansfield.  She fulfilled her dream and earned her Associate’s degree in Business Management in 1983. She then began a career working in the Financial Aid office of the college until her retirement in 1999.  

After a long, loving marriage of 40 years, Arnold passed away in October of 1991. Phyllis relished spending time with her children, grandchildren and friends. Additionally, she continued to maintain the family home and to work. She found joy again in marriage to William (Ted) E. Fort in May of 1999.  They were married for 16 years until his passing in February of 2016.

Phyllis was a kind, thoughtful and loving woman always with a positive outlook on life. She enjoyed entertaining and spending time with family and friends. She was an excellent bridge player and belonged to both a couple’s group with Arnold and a monthly women’s group. In her later years, she and Ted enjoyed traveling to such destinations such as China, Alaska, and Hawaii. They also re-traced the Lewis & Clark Trail from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. 

Survivors include her children, Lynn C. (Joel) Nedrow of Toledo, Scott J. (Melissa) Carter of Butler, Thomas A. (Eileen) Carter of Cleveland and Ross A. Carter of Butler; 8 grandchildren, Jessica (Kyle) McDonald, Eric Nedrow, Adam (Nina) Nedrow, Kristy Carter, Kelli Carter, Victoria (Alex) Brendel, Brianna (Mike) Mangus and Autumn (Dylan) Carter; 9 great grandchildren; and sisters, Mary (Helen) Watkins of Novi, MI, Diane Young of New York City, NY and Mercedes Wetzel of Elk Grove, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 40 years, Arnold J. Carter; her husband of 16 years, William (Ted) E. Fort; brothers, Arthur R. Young and Phillip Koze; and sister, Rita Haas.

The family wishes to thank the excellent staff at Wedgewood Estates Senior Residential Community, Mansfield, OH for their ongoing care and compassion through Phyllis’s final years.

A memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 11am at Little Flower Catholic Church, 5522 Dorr St. Toledo, OH 43615 with Father David Nuss officiating.  The funeral will be live streamed at https://littleflowertoledo.org. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities  or a charity of the donor’s choice. 

Interment will be at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery in Shelby, OH on Monday, July 20, 2020 at 11am.  Graveside services will be live streamed at the Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory's Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/BarkdullFH

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