Colleen Doris Forbush Gentry passed away on September 30, 2023, at the age of 93. Colleen was born on July 14, 1930, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Everett Francis Forbush and Geneva Sylvia Clark Forbush. Colleen was the youngest of four girls. She spent much of her childhood honing her musical skills. She had a beautiful alto voice and played the cello, piano and the harmonica. Colleen and her sisters would be invited to play at weddings, church services, and other events as a musical trio. Colleen was raised around horses and was proud of the years she spent delivering newspapers on horseback and riding her horse to cello lessons.
On February 21, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, James Leonard Gentry, in the Salt Lake Temple. They were married 61 years before James passed away in 2011. Together they raised six children in their beloved home in Rose Park and became the proud grandparents of 23 grandchildren. After her children were raised, Colleen went back to work and retired from Yellow Freight where she had made many lifelong friends. Once she retired, she served a Church service mission at the Utah Bishops’ Central Storehouse, volunteered in elementary schools, and even worked with Meals on Wheels.
Colleen spent much of her adult life enjoying and caring for the Forbush family cabin in Smoot, Wyoming which was originally built by her parents. The cabin was the location of many family trips, reunions, and the center of countless family memories.
Colleen will be remembered for her love of Diet Coke, her obsession with British TV shows where she picked up one of her favorite sayings, “tickety-boo,” an appreciation of a good lunch out with friends at the ZCMI cafeteria, was an expert card player and played a good hand of rummy 500 and her unwavering love for her family.
Colleen is survived by her six children James E. (Sandy), William C., Jayne (Rick) Cowley, Mark F. (JeriAnn), Jill (Larry) Christiansen, and Daniel F. (Jana), 23 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild on the way. Preceded in death by her mother and father, sisters Ellen, Patrica (Vernon) Price and Donna (Frank) Nelson.
There will be a viewing for Colleen Wednesday, October 4 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary located at 3401 South Highland Drive in Salt Lake City. Family only memorial service on Thursday.
The family wants to thank Intermountain Healthcare Hospice specialists, especially Kelsey and Rob in the support and love they have given the Gentry family.
