Lori Lee Forrest, 73, of Cabot, passed from this life into the loving arms of Jesus on Friday, July 24, 2026. She was born on July 18, 1953 in Saginaw, Michigan to the late Richard Earl Bayne and Patricia Bayne. She is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Mitchell Forrest, her sister, Patti Tomczak (Burt), her brother Dr. Norman Bayne (Gail), and her sister from another mother, Christine Brown (Chris). Lori was predeceased by her parents, and her sister, Susan Gay.
Lori always wanted to make people feel special. Hospitality was one of her specialties. She loved to host birthday party dinners for her friends and would always include unique, individually made dinner name cards for each guest. Overnight guests might find chocolate on their pillow or a gift bag. She made greeting cards for her friends and family for special occasions or just to let them know she cared. Lori was extremely devoted to her family and best friends and would walk with them through any trouble they faced.
She had a very strong work ethic that she derived from growing up and working at her family’s apple farm – Bayne’s Apple Valley Farm in Freeland, Michigan. She honed her baking skills during that time and delighted everyone with her homemade apple pies and oatmeal cookies.
Her favorite travel destination was the beaches on the Florida Gulf coast. She loved the outdoors and spent as much time as she could in her yard tending to plants or just soaking up the sun. Lori found much joy in all her fur babies that she mothered from the time she was a child until her passing.
Lori was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and spent the last 28 years of her life serving her church in many capacities but her greatest love was children’s ministry. Many children were shaped by her love and care.
A celebration of life memorial service will be held Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 11:00 am at Mount Tabor Methodist Church, 4100 Highway 89 S, Cabot, AR 72023. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Mount Tabor Methodist Church or Out of the Woods Animal Rescue of Arkansas, www.ootwrescue.org.
