FORT, Verlee passed away peacefully in hospice in Austin, TX on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at 1:11 am, enveloped in love, holding his son's hand, and listening to Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me".

Verlee was the husband to the late Gwendolyn Thomas Fort of Wesley Chapel and the brother of the late Richard Fort of Prince George, VA. Born December 21, 1934, in Bradenton - the son of Sigsby Fort and Virginia Fort (ne Baker) - Verlee grew up in Bradenton and graduated from Lincoln Memorial High School in Palmetto, among the top students in his class. As a young man, Verlee served in the Army beginning in 1954, working as a wheeled vehicle mechanic, including serving in Germany during the German Occupation. He was honorably discharged in 1960.

In 1962, Verlee graduated as the Summa Cum Laude Valedictorian of Gibbs Junior College. A mathematics major, Verlee graduated with a 3.9 GPA and an Associate in Arts degree. Verlee would move across the country to San Jose, CA and meet the love of his life, Gwendolyn Thomas (who coincidentally was from Lacoochee, a small town not far from Bradenton). Verlee spent 29 years working as a systems analyst for IBM in San Jose, Boca Raton, FL, and finally in Austin, TX. He retired from IBM where he worked on the first networked computers (a precursor to the internet). After retiring, he and Gwen moved from Austin back "home" to the Tampa Bay area in 2006.

Surviving family includes his son Verlee Marcara "Marc" Fort and Marc's life partner Susan G. Davis; sister-in-laws Catherine Fort, Willie Mae Graham, and Laurine Graham; brother-in-law Rick Thomas...and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Arrangements by Hodges Funeral Home. Graveside service at Chapel Hill Gardens, 11531 Hwy 301, Dade City, FL 33525, at 3pm on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gwendolyn Thomas Fort & Verlee Fort Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Verlee Fort, via University Federal Credit Union in Austin, TX; venmo: @vmarcfort (Contact Marc Fort for additional info on the scholarship, & how to donate.)

Chapel Hill Gardens