Edward Nunes Forte

Feb. 4, 1920-Feb. 17, 2012

Edward Nunes Forte was born in Newman, CA on February 4, 1920, and passed away February 17, 2012 at the age of 92.

Ed’s family lived briefly in Oakland, CA, before moving to the El Nido area. Ed attended local schools, graduating from Merced High in 1939. Around this time Ed met the love of his life, Sophie. They were married on February 15, 1941 and celebrated 69 years of marriage together before Sophie passed away in 2010. Ed and Sophie lived on the family dairy in El Nido for 60 years before moving into Merced in 2001. Ed worked the dairy for a short time before deciding to lease the land and dairy. He owned/managed the service station in El Nido. After selling the station, he worked for Shannon Hardware followed by many years as a salesman at McNamara Hardware. After McNamara’s closed, Ed worked at FISCO before retiring for good around 1990.

Ed was very proud of his Portuguese heritage and was very active in the many Portuguese organizations in and around El Nido, including the IDES, SES, UPPEC, UPEC, and Luso-America. He was dedicated most to the Chowchilla Festa, being a past officer and delivering sopa to families around Merced and Chowchilla for many years. Ed loved playing cards and never passed up the chance to play pinochle or Pedro with family or friends. Ed and Sophie enjoyed traveling including trips to South America, Europe, and the Azores Islands.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Mariann Forte; wife, Sophie; brothers, Tony Bettencourt, John Bettencourt, and Fred Bettencourt; sister, Isabel Bettencourt; and granddaughter, Jeanette Dalgety.

He is survived by his two daughters, Marian Wright and JoAnn Chiesa (Rudy); grandchildren, Jeff Chiesa (Ellen), Ed Chiesa (Kelly), Nancy Miller (Michael), Dianna Wells (Arne), Michelle Weber (David), and David Dalgety (Kathy); and seven great grandchildren, Austin, Brennan, Garrett, Brianna, Bradley, Thomas, and Andrew.

Visitation will be at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, 1490 B St., Merced, CA on Monday, February 27, 2012 from 3:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. with Recitation of Rosary to be at 7:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 671 E Yosemite Ave, Merced, CA with burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Arrangements under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, Merced, CA.