Jessie Lee Forrest

Funeral services for Jessie Lee Forrest, 86, of Lufkin will be held Friday, December 30, 2016, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Charles M. Roberts and Brother Ron Meadows officiating. Graveside services with military honors will follow in the Ivy Cemetery. Mr. Forrest was born July 2, 1930 in Angelina County, Texas to the late Novie (Walker) and Joshua Travis Forrest, and died Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at his residence. Mr. Forrest grew up on what most people around Huntington and Oak Flat call the Forrest Hill. He was one of seven children and there was always something going on. He said when his mother made hot rolls it took her about four pans before she could ever get ahead of them. Jessie had a hard time in school because he didn’t get to go much when the crops needed to be worked so he just quit in the fourth grade. His dad put him to plowing some new ground and those persimmon sprouts were hitting him on his shins, so the next year he started back to school. He loved to play basketball. When he got out of school he joined the United States Army, in June of 1949. He served three years in the Korean Conflict. When he got out he worked for Texas Telephone and Telegraph for a few years. He met and married Betty Sue Nerren in August 1955. They had three children, Sherry, Lynn, and Jennifer. Jessie had a way about him that everyone loved. He lived life to the fullest and enjoyed just being with his family and friends. He was known as a hard-working man with a firm hand shake, even in his later years. He loved to pick and tease. Jessie was an active member of Denman Avenue Baptist Church for over 40 years and served on the Baptism and Lord’s Supper Committees most of those years. He loved his Lord, his church, and his Sunday School class. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Forrest of Lufkin; daughters and sons-in-laws, Sherry Lloyd and husband Will of Spring Branch, their children, Tito Escobar, Carlito Escobar, Jose Escobar, Josh Lloyd, and JJ Lloyd; Lynn and Elton Sanders of Huffman, their children, Dillon Olds, Regina Costanza, Bryan Sanders, Ryan Sanders, and Lynnsey Hedrick; Jennifer Brooks and husband Payton of McKinney, their children, Emily Brooks, Sarah Kate Brooks, Joseph Brooks, Anna Brooks, and Samuel Brooks; numerous great-grandchildren; sisters, Marceil Waltman of Lufkin, Novi Lou and husband Doug Blankenship of Kingwood; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Wayne and Dixie Nerren of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Jack “Chick” and Barbara Miller of Winona; sister-in-law, Judy Havard of Lufkin; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Garland Forrest and PFC Eugene Kenneth Forrest; sisters, Nona Cartwright, Emily Stanberry; son-in-law, George Olds. Pallbearers will be Dillon Olds, Joseph Brooks, Johnny Miller, Tito Escobar, Allen Forrest, Mike Nerren, Gerald Cartwright, and George Cartwright. Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Johnson, Ronnie Stanberry, and John Stanberry. Memorial contributions may be made to Denman Avenue Baptist Church, Touching Eternity Fund, 1807 E. Denman Avenue, Lufkin, Texas, 75901. The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home. Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com. Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.