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Our treasured Granny and wonderful Mother, Mary Brooxie Forrest, peacefully departed this world on the morning of Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at The Woods Nursing Home for Rehabilitation in Monticello, Arkansas.
Mary was born on August 06, 1935, in the Centerpoint community in Drew County, AR to the late Obed Brown and Bernice Arnold Elemore. She was also preceded in death by her husband Frank “Jack” Forrest, a son-in-law Robert Spence, a great-grandson Brett Burke, sister’s Peggy Ashcraft, Beatrice Collier, Delores Haas and her brother’s Buck Brown and Scott Brown.
She had a true calling for nurturing and taking care of people. She worked in the Drew Hospital for many years. When she was 40 she decided to go to college. She graduated in 1978 with her degree as a Registered Nurse. After working in the hospital, she went to work at Potlatch in Arkansas City as the Plant Nurse. After retirement from the mill she decided that being at home was not what she wanted to do. So she worked at Potlatch when they needed her and also went to work at Home Health in Lake Village. All throughout her life she was a dedicated, smart, hard worker and always enjoyed what she did. But what she loved most was being a Mother to her children and Granny to all of her grandchildren. Her family gave her so much joy.
Granny was a beautiful person. She was loved by everyone. If you met her once then you had a true friend for life. She was a wonderful mother not only to her children but to everyone else’s children. She treated them like they were her own. Her heart was always full and her arms were always open, along with her kitchen because she always loved to cook and feed anyone that came to her home.
She is survived by her sons Edward Forrest and Michael Forrest (Alice) of Monticello and Chris Forrest (Gloria) of Hamburg. Three daughters Anita Spence and Wanda Bodiford (Timmy) of Monticello and Jackie Rhodes of Star City. She has 11 grandchildren Jenny Cokley, Tanya Loveless (Josh), Bambi Burns (Michael), Jonathan Rhodes (LaTisha), Destiney Castleberry, Shelley Glidewell (Timmy), Blake Forrest (Sarah), Nicholas Forrest (Cecily), Cody Forrest (Kelsey), Devon Forrest (Jason), and Jessica Forrest. She has 22 Great Grandchildren. They include Tyler Griffin (Kayla), Hunter Rhodes, Garrett Burke, Larkin Adcock, Ashton King, Kayser Rhodes, Olivia Wood, Alexandra Loveless, Dalton Glidewell, Trenton Forrest, Kearston Glidewell, Levi Forrest, Kacyn Rhodes, Jalynn Rhodes, Hallie Forrest, Cadence Pieroni, Alyse Kincaid, Emma Forrest, Tucker Forrest, Jonathan Rhodes, Jr., Tillie Forrest, and Annie Forrest. In addition, she has 4 Great-Great Grandchildren Hunter Griffin, Anna Kate Ross, Jace Griffin, and Natalie Griffin.
Visitation will be Friday, September 23, 2022, from 6-8 p.m. at Stephenson Dearman Funeral Home in Monticello. The funeral will be Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. in the Chapel at Stephenson Dearman Funeral Home in Monticello. Burial will be in the Union Ridge Cemetery with Brother Larry Clements officiating.
Pallbearers will be Mark Winstead, Gary Funderburg, Randy Forrest John Spence, Jr., Blake Forrest, Nicholas Forrest, and Garrett Burke.
She will be missed terribly. This is not goodbye. We will see you later because we know you will be waiting on us.
Mary was born on August 06, 1935, in the Centerpoint community in Drew County, AR to the late Obed Brown and Bernice Arnold Elemore. She was also preceded in death by her husband Frank “Jack” Forrest, a son-in-law Robert Spence, a great-grandson Brett Burke, sister’s Peggy Ashcraft, Beatrice Collier, Delores Haas and her brother’s Buck Brown and Scott Brown.
She had a true calling for nurturing and taking care of people. She worked in the Drew Hospital for many years. When she was 40 she decided to go to college. She graduated in 1978 with her degree as a Registered Nurse. After working in the hospital, she went to work at Potlatch in Arkansas City as the Plant Nurse. After retirement from the mill she decided that being at home was not what she wanted to do. So she worked at Potlatch when they needed her and also went to work at Home Health in Lake Village. All throughout her life she was a dedicated, smart, hard worker and always enjoyed what she did. But what she loved most was being a Mother to her children and Granny to all of her grandchildren. Her family gave her so much joy.
Granny was a beautiful person. She was loved by everyone. If you met her once then you had a true friend for life. She was a wonderful mother not only to her children but to everyone else’s children. She treated them like they were her own. Her heart was always full and her arms were always open, along with her kitchen because she always loved to cook and feed anyone that came to her home.
She is survived by her sons Edward Forrest and Michael Forrest (Alice) of Monticello and Chris Forrest (Gloria) of Hamburg. Three daughters Anita Spence and Wanda Bodiford (Timmy) of Monticello and Jackie Rhodes of Star City. She has 11 grandchildren Jenny Cokley, Tanya Loveless (Josh), Bambi Burns (Michael), Jonathan Rhodes (LaTisha), Destiney Castleberry, Shelley Glidewell (Timmy), Blake Forrest (Sarah), Nicholas Forrest (Cecily), Cody Forrest (Kelsey), Devon Forrest (Jason), and Jessica Forrest. She has 22 Great Grandchildren. They include Tyler Griffin (Kayla), Hunter Rhodes, Garrett Burke, Larkin Adcock, Ashton King, Kayser Rhodes, Olivia Wood, Alexandra Loveless, Dalton Glidewell, Trenton Forrest, Kearston Glidewell, Levi Forrest, Kacyn Rhodes, Jalynn Rhodes, Hallie Forrest, Cadence Pieroni, Alyse Kincaid, Emma Forrest, Tucker Forrest, Jonathan Rhodes, Jr., Tillie Forrest, and Annie Forrest. In addition, she has 4 Great-Great Grandchildren Hunter Griffin, Anna Kate Ross, Jace Griffin, and Natalie Griffin.
Visitation will be Friday, September 23, 2022, from 6-8 p.m. at Stephenson Dearman Funeral Home in Monticello. The funeral will be Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. in the Chapel at Stephenson Dearman Funeral Home in Monticello. Burial will be in the Union Ridge Cemetery with Brother Larry Clements officiating.
Pallbearers will be Mark Winstead, Gary Funderburg, Randy Forrest John Spence, Jr., Blake Forrest, Nicholas Forrest, and Garrett Burke.
She will be missed terribly. This is not goodbye. We will see you later because we know you will be waiting on us.