D. Ray Forrester
July 19, 1907 ~ February 7, 2001
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Mr. Forrester was a native of Mountain City, TN and was born July 19, 1907. He was a son of the late Andrew J. and Nora P. Forrester and had lived in Asheville for over seventy years. He was married to June J. Forrester who died in 1989 and he retired from Drexel Furniture Co. in Black Mountain in 1972.
He was a charter member (62 years) of the former Biltmore Christian Missionary Alliance Church and he was noted for his Christian testimony, his love of family, his musical talent and his ever-present smile.
He made 103 Appalachian Mountain dulcimers for family and friends and he enjoyed visiting schools to share mountain heritage and music with the students.
He is survived by two daughters, Ann F. Richardson and her husband David of Asheville and Sandra Allen of Hendersonville; two sons, Harold A. Forrester and his wife Skip of Goldsboro and Bill G. Forrester and his wife Sue of Springfield, MO; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one sister, Faye Gentry and one brother, Darius Forrester, both of Mountain City, TN.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Friday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian with the Revs. Don Furness and David Richardson officiating. Burial will be at Shepherd Memorial Park. Grandsons will be pallbearers.
His family will receive friends from 7-8:30 PM Thursday at the funeral home, 72 Long Shoals Road, and at other times will be at the home of Ann and David Richardson, 33 Imperial Court.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 434 Fayetteville Street Mall, Two Hanover Square, Suite 1600, Raleigh, NC 27601.
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Dear Ann and Sandra, Harold and Bill,
I just counted up the years that I (we) have known your father. (48 years) That is a very long time, and yet you have have him longer.
He will always be ‘our Mr. Forrester’. I have had the privilege of knowing him and your mother, having many of his wonderful pictures, and the many memories that we all shared at Biltmore Alliance Church.
Our prayers are with you and your families.
Love always
Marsha
There are millions of memories about Uncle Ray when I was a kid. Music was his life along with woodworking. I have one of the dulcimers he made. The songs that him and the Worleys sang in church willalways be remembered. Cottage prayer meetings especially on the estate, and the magnificent Forrester family reunions in Tennessee. I have one of those cookbooks too. My deepest sympathy goes to all the family but I know Uncle Ray is playing his guitar and blowin’ a French Harp in Heaven. Lenny Lytle
Hi Sandra and Ann,
I have so many good memories of Mr. Forrester. He was one of the sweetiest men ever and he always had something good to say.I remember at the little church all the times he played his harmonica and did the train. It always made us kids laugh. He had patience too,putting up with all of us girls fixing popcorn late at night and he never said a word about how much noise we were making, I think he liked us around. I’m so glad I went to visit him at the nursing home, Janie Ingle and I went. i think he really knew who we were when we started talking about the church. I think of those days often and Mr. Forrester is always in those memories. I will be thinking about you all tomorrow and I wish I could be there. I talked to Mom and Dad this morning and they said to tell you their prayers are with you. I’ll call you soon Sandra. Love, Debbie
Jessie and I were sad to learn of Mr. Forrester’s death. Mr. Forrester was always a ray of sunshine.God bless all of you.
Family of Ray Forrester
I am so sorry for the loss of your Dad. As everyone else; I have wonderful memories of him, as we all grew up. The most memorable was that brilliant smile that was always there. My thoughts are with all of you.
Janie