Alta Deane (Dee Dee) Etheridge was born on January 27, 1927, in O'Donnell, Texas, to Lattye Elaine and William Boyd Fortner. She died a peaceful death on Thursday, at the age of 85 on December 13, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Village in Denton, Texas. An unusually beautiful woman, she turned heads as she walked by but was best known for her radiant smile and infectious giggle. She was always the life of the party and lit up any room she entered. Deane loved to dance and was a voracious reader of great books and torrid romance novels. Although she had no children of her own, she lavished great attention on her nieces, nephews and neighborhood children. No matter who you were, she had a way of making you feel special.

Proceeded in death by her parents, brothers Nelson Boyd Fortner and David Fortner; she is survived by her sister, Jeanette Holbert of Profit, Texas; Sister-in-Law Garnell Fortner of Denton, Texas; niece Debbie Millican of Denton, Texas; niece Cindy Townley of Newcastle, Texas; nephew Rodger Holbert of Profit, Texas; and nephew Nathan Holbert of Newcastle, Texas.

Following cremation, a private memorial service will be held at the Graham-Argyle Cemetery, in Argyle, Texas, the date of which will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite animal rescue organization.