Helen Kimmey Forrest

Funeral services for Doris “Helen” Kimmey Forrest, 92, of Friendswood, Texas (formerly of Lufkin) will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 30, 2017 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel in Lufkin, Texas. Interment will follow in the Oddfellows Cemetery in Huntington.

Helen passed away September 21, 2017 in Friendswood, Texas. She was born at Camp Bannister, Texas on August 6, 1925 as the youngest child to Wood H. and Mable Etta Kimmey.

Helen grew up in Angelina County and was a majorette in the Huntington High School Band, where she was chosen FFA Sweetheart, Duchess to the Forest Festival and Most Beautiful by her classmates. She secretly married her high school sweetheart, Charles “Dorman” Forrest, on March 15, 1942 before he served in World War II. They settled in Lufkin upon Dorman’s return to Texas to raise their two children, Steve and Patti, where Helen found great joy in being a mother and pride in expressing her artistic talents through hand-making costumes for school plays. Helen continued to support her husband when his career took them to Dallas, where she thrived and became the first college graduate in the family with a degree in Interior Design from El Centro College. Dorman and Helen made many fond memories with their family at their second home, Bar D Ranch, in Mineola, Texas. Known as Grammy, Helen found second life in her granddaughters, Cami, Jordan and Brooke.

They later returned back to Lufkin for retirement where Helen used her degree to design the home of their dreams. She spent her remaining years traveling the world with Dorman, perfecting her garden, cooking for her family and supporting the US veterans by sharing the stories of her devoted husband’s United States Army service and brothers’ tragic deaths in Pearl Harbor.

She was an active member of Lufkin’s First Baptist Church for many years as a singer in the choir; and will be remembered for her determination, gumption, gift of song, unwavering support of the Dallas Cowboys, love of all things Hawaiian and unconditional love for her family.

In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, Dorman Forrest; her sister, Sibyl Williams; and her brothers, Doyle and Edwin Kimmey.

Helen was survived by her son, Steve Forrest and wife Amanda; daughter, Patti Forrest Siewers; granddaughters, Cami Lynne Siewers, Jordan (Forrest) Russo and Brooke Forrest; grandson-in-law, John-Paul Russo; and numerous other family members and friends.

Pallbearers will be Steve Forrest, John-Paul Russo, Tommy Hysler and Spider Williams.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.