Raymond John Forbish, 78, went to be with his LORD August 1, 2013, in Houston, TX. Ray was born April 18, 1935, in Colby, WI, and was the youngest son of Elvira and Gordon Forbish. Growing up on a dairy farm in rural Wisconsin, Ray learned the value of hard work and graduated as the number one boy from his high school class. Excelling in school, Ray attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering. During college and prior to graduation, Ray entered the United States Army and was stationed at NORAD in Colorado Springs, CO, as a code breaker.
Upon graduation, Ray was hired by Shell Oil Company in New Orleans, LA where he worked for 18 years. He then accepted a position with Houston Oil & Minerals and would later become Vice President of Challenger Minerals, a subsidiary of Global Marine in Houston, TX. He loved working and, therefore, did not retire but continued to work as an independent geological consultant. Ray married Fredna Mae Boyd December 12, 1964, in Jackson, MS. Ray and Fredna were married 22 wonderful years and had three children, Rae Marie, D’Ann and John before Fredna succumbed to a long term illness in 1986. Ray then married Sherry Hughes Mann on September 5, 1994, in London, England and again on September 9, 1994, in Richmond, TX. They were happily married for 18 years until Ray's sudden death.
Ray was a kind and gentle person who we will deeply miss. He was a faithful member of Bammel Church of Christ for 32 years and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his “Life Group.” He and Sherry were charter members of the Texas Opry Jamboree. Ray was a member of the Houston Geological Society, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association. While Ray worked projects on fields in many parts of the United States and Egypt, his specialty and passion was the Gulf Coast offshore. He loved rock formations wherever he could find them, and delighted in sharing that love with his children and grandchildren.
Besides Ray’s parents, wife Fredna, brother-in-law William Pevytoe, he was predeceased by his brother Eugene Forbish (Betty), of Clinton, IA. Ray is survived by his wife, Sherry Mann Forbish, brother, Tom Forbish (Shirley) of Marshfield, WI, sister, Joyce Pevytoe of Wausau, WI, daughters, Rae Marie Liddell (Alistair) of London, England, D'Ann Norwood (John) of Midland, TX, a son, John Forbish of San Diego, CA, stepsons Richard Mann (Traci) of Spring, TX and Blake Mann (Sammantha) of Tomball, TX, and grandchildren, William, Andrew and Philip Norwood, Tai and Kia Liddell, Trevor and Alyssa Mann, and Joseph and Sam Mann. Additionally, Ray is survived by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dr. John Zerwas and wife, Cindy, Lee Hughes and wife, Sara, and Leslie Boyd and wife, Anne Marie.
A celebration of Ray's life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Bammel Church of Christ, 2700 FM 1960 West, Houston, TX, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bammel Church of Christ Building Fund, Croatia for Christ (may be mailed to 2700 FM 1960 West, Houston, TX, 77069), or to the charity of one's choice.
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