On the morning of December 26, 2022, Raymond Carl Forester's spirit left our physical world to join his Heavenly father in eternity.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 24, 1961, Raymond was the fourth of five sons of John Gillespie Forester and Bobbie Jean Forester. Growing up, the family lived in Texas and Michigan before finally coming back and putting roots down in Oklahoma, where Raymond graduated from Jenks Christian Academy in 1979. The boys were raised in a Jesus-loving household by God-fearing parents, who were always active in their church. Along with Bible learning, they were-whether they liked it or not-taught how to work on cars, fix trucks, roof houses, snake plumbing, and generally do-it-all-themselves. This was a philosophy Raymond held on to and passed to his kids, whether they liked it or not.

After a short break following high school graduation, Raymond (not Ray!) joined his best friend, Jeff, at John Brown University where he was introduced to the woman who would become the love of his life-a "Yankee," from Pennsylvania, no less-Donna Marie Cherry.

Raymond and Donna were married in August 1981, and began their life together in Tulsa. Raymond worked so that Donna could earn her degree from the University of Tulsa. In 1983, their first son, Jason, was born, and four years later they were overjoyed to welcome their second son, Jordan.

Golf, fishing, hunting, going to festivals, and spending time outdoors were among the things Raymond loved to do most, and he was elated to be able to share these experiences with his sons and then his grandchildren.

One of Raymond's most endearing qualities was his reliability when help was needed. He was always there for people-whether it was strangers who needed a hand or a friend from work, but especially those he loved-even if that meant waking in the middle of the night to drive out and pull a son's SUV out of a sand dune, or giving up a much-anticipated hunting trip to drive to Norman to watch his grandson because the parents needed help.

Raymond is preceded in death by his father, John. He is survived by his mother, Bobbie, his wife Donna, sons Jason and Jordan, their wives Catie and Lale, respectively, grandchildren Jack, Maggie, and Sam, brothers Robert, Russell, Johnny, and Jeremy, and Donna's mother Delores (Nana Cherry) and sister Caroline Adams, whose care for Raymond in his final weeks was immeasurably helpful and meaningful.

For forty-one years of marriage, through thick and thin, Raymond and Donna loved each other, raised their boys together, and loved on their grandbabies-passing on all the knowledge and wisdom they had gathered over the course of their life together. Raymond will be missed, but we celebrate his life and the promise of resurrection and life everlasting.

Raymond's memorial service will be held Saturday, December 31, at 2:00pm at Florence Street Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, with a reception with light refreshments to follow.

He will be laid to rest in Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.