Obituary of Herbert Forrest

Herbert Joe Forrest, Jr. passed away January 11, 2012 at the age of 66, after a long struggle with chronic mental and physical illnesses. He was born December 11, 1945 in Washington, D.C. to Helen and Dr. Herbert Forrest. His early life was spent in San Antonio, Texas and Seattle, Washington during his father's military service. He returned to Tulsa with his parents in 1948. Herb attended Lee and Paul Revere elementary schools, followed by Edison Jr. High and Holland Hall High School. He graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1968. He subsequently lived in Fort Lee, New Jersey, eventually returning to Tulsa to manage his grandfather's real estate company. Located on one of Herb's real estate developments was the Council Oak, the sacred tree upon whose ground the Creek tribe deposited the ashes from their last fires in Alabama. Herb was instrumental in donating the Council Oak to the City of Tulsa for preservation in 1974. It was placed on the National Register in 1976 and is now the Creek Nation Council Oak Park. Herb was enamored of speed and had a life-long passion for automobile racing, competing in several different classes of road racing sanctioned by the SCCA. A highlight of his career was driving a Corvette in the National Trans Am Road Race series in 1981 and 1982. He was an avid reader and collector of books, a rider of motorcycles, a tennis player, a dog lover, and a piano player who appreciated the sound of good music. He loved hunting with his brothers and nephews. Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Dr. Herbert Forrest. He is survived by his dear friend and former wife, Mary Jane Forrest; daughters, Carrie Forrest and Emily Fountain, and their mother Sandra Forrest; grandchild Sam Fountain; brothers John, David, and William Forrest, sister Mary Helen Forrest-Doyle, and their spouses; and many nieces and nephews. If desired, memorial donations may be made to All Souls Unitarian Church.