Obit for Jimmie posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger
Sep 23, 1917 - Jan 26, 2012

http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/

Jimmie Lois Forister, 94, went to be with her Heavenly Father Thursday, January 26, 2012, in Norman. 

Jimmie Lois Gilley Forister was the second daughter born to Ruby J. and Jim W. Gilley on September 23, 1917 in the small town of West, Texas.  She later moved to Brownwood, Texas at 18 months where she graduated high school in 1935.  At 19 she married Victor Crawford Forister, on May 16th 1937, her boss at McLellans in Brownwood.  Like the old song, she was truly his "Million-Dollar Baby in the Five and Ten-Cent Store." During WW II Jimmie volunteered at Tinker Air Base, making a part called a gyro.  They moved to Norman in 1945 for Forister to manage the first T G & Y Variety Store on Main St. for 15 years until he became Area Manager.  Members of the First Baptist Church, they were also active in developing Norman in the 50s, 60s and 70s, namely laundromats, T G & Y Family Center, Hollywood Shopping Center, and Brookhaven.  They were big supporters of Sooner Football.  As hats were popular in those days, Jimmie created a packable wool-jersey hat that could be worn at least six ways.  It was seen in the August, 1952 Mademoiselle Magazine.

Jimmie's long-time friend Mary Hartsock brought her into Norman's first chapter of the service sorority Beta Sigma Phi.  She did a lot of philanthropic work on her own and  through PEO Chapter FB.  Jimmie enjoyed golfing, cards, dominoes, traveling and antiques.   In recent years she loved reading, especially biblical and spiritual stories.  At age 90 she wrote and published, "Come Walk with Me…a Bible Teaser."

Jimmie will be missed by her only grandchild, Marla Robb and her husband Robert, and their six children:  Dylan, Tyler, Mathew, Sydney, Austin and Brynlee who live near Rivermont, where Jimmie lived the last six years; her brother Richard Gilley of League City, TX; nieces Pam McAlister of Ft. Worth, Gaye McDonald of Henderson, NV and LaJuan Farley of Dallas; and nephew Bill Cross of Wyoming. 

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1982 and by their only child, the "joy of her life”, Vic Jr., in 1998.

Viewing is from 1-8 p.m. Sunday, and Monday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.  The family will be accepting visitors from 6-8 p.m. Monday. 

Memorials may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association at www.mda.org. 

Pallbearers:  Robert Robb; Mark Tadlock; Bob Hartsock; Jim Adair; all of Norman. Dr. Wayne Farley of Dallas; Hoyt Gilley Jr. San Angelo, Texas; and Arkansas nephews Charles and Warren Cross.  Honorary pallbearers are James Gilley, Early, Texas; and Kenneth McAlister, Fort Worth.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at the First Baptist Church, 211 West Comanche, under the direction of Dr. Lavonn Brown and Dr. Wade Smith. Interment will follow at Norman IOOF Cemetery. Arrangements for Jimmie and her family were placed in the care of the Vice Family at Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman.