J. Garry Forsey

Obituary for James Garry Forsey

Our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, James Garry Forsey (90), passed away on 25 January,2020 due to complications of pneumonia. His dementia will no longer hold him back, and we are so thankful to know of the grand reunion that surely greeted him in his new heavenly home.

The youngest of six children, Garry was born in Eureka, Utah on 29 July 1929 to George Woodruff Forsey and Pearl Irene Furner. His father’s parents emigrated to America in 1892, and his mother’s great grandparents were Hyrum and Mary Fielding Smith, brother to the prophet, Joseph Smith

Growing up in the beautiful mountains of Eureka, he was a true-blue outdoorsman, hiking, fishing and hunting to his greatest delight. He graduated from Tintic High School and worked with his dad in the ice cream manufacturing and soda pop business to make his way to attend Brigham Young University in 1947 where he completed his freshman and sophomore years.

Garry was then called to serve a mission in July of 1949 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central Pacific Mission which was combined with and called the Hawaii Mission six months later. No one sported a Hawaiian shirt as well as Garry! Hawaiian music and a love for the Japanese and Hawaiian culture became a part of who he was. He was drafted into the U.S. Army shortly after returning from his mission and was asked to serve as a Chaplain’s assistant for the rest of the two years he was in the service. Garry would always express great thanks for this “beautiful and free land of America.”

On a three-day pass from the Army, Garry flagged down a Trailways bus for a ride. It was on that bus he met his eternal sweetheart, Carol Lucile Dooley. They were married on 16 July, 1954 in the Manti, UT Temple, and made their home in Orem, UT. They were blessed with five children. Garry completed his education at BYU and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Business and Marketing. He always enjoyed a good BYU football or basketball game. Garry was an avid golfer, managing not one, but two holes in one!

He started out as a salesman for New York Life Insurance, and then in 1960, became a District and Area Sales Manager for Kimberly Clark Corporation. Over the next thirty years, His work took him and his family to Taylorsville, Utah, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Great Falls, Montana, and then back to North Salt Lake, Utah, where he retired in 1994.

Garry loved his Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, and showed his love through his service in many different capacities. He served in scouting, as Bishop of the Orchard 11 th Ward, and also on the High Council. Garry and Carol served as Family History Missionaries in 1994 and ministering to others was a natural part of their character. He was active in his community, serving on the Board of Adjustment and running for City Councilman in North Salt Lake, UT.

Garry and Carol were married for one week shy of 60 years when Carol passed away in 2014. Garry leaves behind one sister, Norma Salmon Kratzer. Surviving are Garry’s children, Carol Diane (Kevin) Jones, Phillip James (Terri), Kent Garry (Sandra), Laura Lee (Tom) Mormon, Paul Howard (Ann), 25 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held Friday, January 31, 2020 from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Mortuary in Bountiful, UT, 295 N. Main St., 84010. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 11 a.m. with a viewing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the LDS Church on 351 Lofty Lane in North Salt Lake, UT. He will be buried at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 E. Lakeview Dr., Bountiful, Utah.