Ethel Lucille Forrest

Ethel Lucille Forrest, age 98, of Gatesville passed away Sunday, February 14, 2016 in Gatesville. Graveside services will be 2:30 PM, Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at Weaver Chapel Cemetery. Lucille was born on February 27, 1917, to Henry Herman Wilhelm and Martha Ethel Coward Wilhelm at the Wilhelm home in the Ames Community of Coryell County, Texas. She attended Enterprise School at Ames and transferred to Gatesville High School, where she graduated in 1934. She married J.O. Forrest on November 9, 1935 in Gatesville. She lived most of her life in the house where she was born on the farm purchased by her grandfather Wilhelm in 1887. She was a housewife, a seamstress and a quilter. She was an active member of the Ames and later Jonesboro Methodist Churches. Lucille had three brothers, all very special to her, in their youth, and until their deaths. Grady died in 1983, Edwin in 2005, and Herschel in 1976. Their dad died December 20, 1975; their mother, October 30, 1984. Unable to live alone after a fall April 25, 2006, she made her home at Hillside in Gatesville. As long as she was there, her favorite activity was “Sunday School,” singing hymns lead by David Mitchell. Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, April 7, 1988; her parents; infant son, Walter Ray Forrest; son, Nathan Kelly Forrest, January 27, 1997; step-daughter, Marianna Forrest Brown Foust; step-grandson, Paul Foust; brothers Henry Grady, Clarence Edwin, and Herschel Troy Wilhelm. Lucille is survived by her daughter, Amelia Bogard and husband, Michael, of Gatesville; son, Robert Forrest, of Bryan; eleven grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Jane Forrest; sister-in-law, Madalene Wilhelm; and first cousins, Herman Foust, Ruby Foust Young, and Glenda Earl “Sugie” Coward Williamson. She will be laid to rest in Weaver Chapel Cemetery on land donated in 1879 by Rev. John Wilson, her great-great-grandfather, where at least seven generations of her relatives have been buried. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Weaver Chapel Cemetery would be appreciated: Mike Coward, 3470 County Road 108, Gatesville, TX 76528-3842.