Thomas Michael Forrest's Obituary
Thomas Michael Forrest, only child of Julia and Wendell Forrest, was born on May 21, 1939, in Washington DC. He passed away from this life on June 2, 2026.
Tom and his family moved from Washington DC to his mother’s hometown of Carrollton IL when he was 4 years old. In Illinois, Tom was surrounded by many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. He and his cousins played together every day, and they worked together all summer on the family’s farm. Growing up, Tom’s small family lived together with his maternal Aunt Rosemary and her son Bob who was a lifelong big brother to Tom. Tom attended St. John’s Catholic Church School but switched to public school his sophomore year of high school so he could play basketball. He and his male cousins, who played for opposing teams, would get rather physical with each other on the court from time to time until one of their moms would come down from the stands to straighten out the offending boy. Tom’s relatives were close and the aunts and uncles parented all the children, not just their own. Tom's kids and grand kids heard many funny stories about the antics he, his cousins and his buddies would pull during their high school years. He never minimized his leadership abilities in creating those antics.
After graduating from Carrollton High School, Tom joined the United States Air Force and served in the Philippines, Guam, and Pakistan. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1961. After his military service, Tom was attending Nebraska State University when he was recruited by the U.S. State Department to work in Washington DC. He then worked for the Department of Defense in St. Louis, Missouri for a few years before moving to the private sector as a salesman and manager in the utility supply business. Tom moved to Arlington, Texas in 1970, and briefly lived in Florida and Sedalia, Missouri before moving to Longview in 1984. There he met and married Barbara Bledsoe Watkins in 1985. Together, Tom and Barbara lived the life of their dreams. They travelled all over the country and abroad, built their dream house and enjoyed their grandchildren, who spent many hours with Mimi and Grandar. Tom felt his life in Longview gave him a feeling of belonging that he had not felt since high school.
Tom never met a stranger, had a quick and sarcastic wit and loved to tease. The very last conversation Blaise and I had with him was filled with laughter and included his favorite subject, cookies. Tom also had a soft spot for those less fortunate; he loved his family and friends and teared up watching sad movies. He especially loved his canine children and was known to walk the floors of the house for hours in the middle of the night holding his precious Shih Tzu, Maggie, during one of her many severe seizures.
Tom was an avid golfer all his adult life. For over 20 years, he was known as the Commissioner to his many PineCrest Country Club golfing buddies for his organization of their games and golf trips. There was nothing Tom enjoyed more than getting together with his golf friends, “telling lies” and playing jokes on one another. When he once got annoyed and threatened by letter to “remove himself” as commissioner, his attorney friend Jerry Harris promptly filed an injunction requesting that Court Judge Bill Stout render null and void the letter from Tom threatening to remove himself as commissioner. The Judge then ordered that Tom was prohibited from even thinking about quitting the commissioner role and if the order was violated, Mr. Forrest could be punished by fine and/or confinement in jail. The sheriff then had Tom served with that document right on the golf course. He told Barbara later that he thought she was serving him with divorce papers. Of course, the attorney, the Judge, the sheriff and the document server were all in on the joke. That document and the detail with which it was carried out was one of Tom’s favorite all time life moments. So, you see why Tom cherished the many friendships that golf brought to his life.
Tom is survived by his wife, Barbara, daughters Melissa Forrest of Atlanta, GA, Dee Johnson (Kim Kralj) of Los Angeles, CA, and Tammy Riley (Tom) of Longview TX, sons Jeff Forrest (Paula) of Lake Wales, FL and Blaise Forrest of Longview TX, grandchildren Justin Forrest of NC, Christy Grimes and Olivia Forrest of FL, Evan Kralj-Johnson and Ryder Kralj-Johnson of Los Angeles, Makenzie Smith of Dallas, Savannah Tobin and Ava Riley of Longview; great-grandchildren Brenton Boggs and Barrett Tobin. Tom is also survived by his beloved brother-in-law and sister-in-law Kenneth and Raye White of Gilmer, TX, and many nieces and nephews.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Julia and Wendell Forrest, his cousin/big brother Bob Hardwick and special aunt Rosemary Hardwick.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held on Thursday, June 11, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at PineCrest Country Club, 214 Club Dr, Longview TX. Tom could always be counted on to be there for his friends’ services, but he hated wearing a suit, so we ask you to honor him by dressing casually for his service and wear a golf shirt if you have one.
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