Michael Dowd Fort

Michael Dowd Fort, 60, Nashville attorney and former Columbia resident, died Friday, May 23, 2008 in Nashville. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols. Burial will be in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family requests memorials to "Room at the Inn" 606 Demonbreun Street, Nashville 37219. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. He was a 1966 graduate of Columbia Central High School and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. After earning his law degree from Nashville School of Law in 1990, Mike served as General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. He served in this capacity since its formation in 1999 and with the Department of Employment Security since 1975, initially in the Knoxville office. Since his retirement in August, 2007, he has enjoyed fishing, golfing, and was an avid fan of Tennessee Titans football. Mike was a friend to the working man. A life-long communicant of the Catholic Church, he was a former member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Columbia and was member and served on the Board of Loaves & Fishes at Holy Name Catholic Church in Nashville. A devoted father, brother, uncle and friends, Mike is survived by two beloved children, Willow Eden Fort of Nashville and Michael Teague Wiser (Jacque) Fort of Spring Hill; his only grandson, Michael Andrew Fort, was born Wednesday, May 21, 2008; a sister, Betsy Fort (Don) Coffey, of New Market; a niece, Patrice (Jim) Staley of Knoxville; nephews, Chip Sommer of Houston, Texas, Don (Kym) Coffey, Jr., Chris (Katie) Coffey, and James (Kelly) Coffey, all of Knoxville; several grand nieces and grand nephews; and special friend, Frannie Lee of Nashville. He was married 26 years to the former Cora Wiser, mother of his children. Like their dad, both children have pursued legal professions. He was preceded in death by his parents, James E. and Wilma Regan Fort and a sister, Patricia Fort Sommer. Active pallbearers are Don Coffey, Jr., Chip Coffey, Chris Coffey, James Coffey, Tommy White, and Jewel Crawford. Honorary pallbeaers are Jim Hatmaker and Arthur Franklin.