Obituary for Forest Earl Halford
Greer Funeral Home
235 South Pennsylvania
Mangum, Oklahoma 73554
(580) 782-3323
HALFORD
Forest Earl Halford, 71, died Sunday, October 16, 2011 in the resort community of Chapala, Mexico after a sudden stroke. Forest was born in Mangum, Oklahoma on May 2, 1940, while his family lived and farmed in the Eastview community. The Halford family moved to their farm north of Mangum in 1941 where Forest lived for most of his life. Forest attended grade school and high school in Mangum and graduated from Mangum high school in 1958.
Forest had many memorable experiences during his childhood years. In 1955 Forest had a fried chicken dinner with then Senator Basil R. Wilson and then sent the Senator home with some farm raised chickens. The Senator even sent an official Thank You letter to Forest in appreciation of his chickens and invited him to visit him in the Senate.
Forest was kind and generous and had many skills. He was an expert butcher and had worked in that field since he was a young boy, learning the trade at Puckett"s Grocery Store in Mangum. He was an accomplished woodworker and had a unique talent for restoring furniture. His greatest love, though, was being with his boys. He taught them how to hunt and fish, how to handle guns, and the value of hard work. He was a great shot and became a certified Police Expert Marksman.
Forest was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Mangum attaining the level of 32nd degree Mason and was a member of Trinity Baptist Church. He was very proud of his Masonic Lodge membership and his service to family, community and church. Forest was actively involved in the Rattlesnake Derby for many years and was recognized for his dedication to community activities.
Forest had a deep sense of loyalty to his family and returned to Mangum in 1990 to care for his mother and father in their declining years. Forest considered it an honor and a privilege to care for the parents that he dearly loved. After his parents passed away, Forest retired to Mexico where he spent his remaining years on the shores of Lake Chapala, peacefully watching the sun rise and set.
Forest was the youngest of three children born to John J and Clara Lillie (Price) Halford of Mangum, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents and older sister Joyce Fern (Halford) Wasson. He is survived by his older brother John Ross Halford of Austin, Texas, sons John Alden Halford and wife Nicki of Ojai, California and Forest Wayne Halford of Pleasant Grove, California, grandson Jasper Julian Halford of Pleasant Grove, California, nephew David Wasson of Cotati, California, nieces Sherri Nickles of Buda, Texas, Sue Goode of Jacksonville, Florida, and Mary Simmerman of Littleton, Colorado and many members of the extended Halford family.
Memorial services for Forest Halford will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, November 12, 2011, at Greer Funeral Home Chapel, in Mangum, with Pastor Shawn Johnson officiating.
Online tributes may be made to the family at www.GreerFuneral.com
11/12/2011
2:00 PM
Memorial
Greer Funeral Home
Mangum
OK
Read More
235 South Pennsylvania
Mangum, Oklahoma 73554
(580) 782-3323
HALFORD
Forest Earl Halford, 71, died Sunday, October 16, 2011 in the resort community of Chapala, Mexico after a sudden stroke. Forest was born in Mangum, Oklahoma on May 2, 1940, while his family lived and farmed in the Eastview community. The Halford family moved to their farm north of Mangum in 1941 where Forest lived for most of his life. Forest attended grade school and high school in Mangum and graduated from Mangum high school in 1958.
Forest had many memorable experiences during his childhood years. In 1955 Forest had a fried chicken dinner with then Senator Basil R. Wilson and then sent the Senator home with some farm raised chickens. The Senator even sent an official Thank You letter to Forest in appreciation of his chickens and invited him to visit him in the Senate.
Forest was kind and generous and had many skills. He was an expert butcher and had worked in that field since he was a young boy, learning the trade at Puckett"s Grocery Store in Mangum. He was an accomplished woodworker and had a unique talent for restoring furniture. His greatest love, though, was being with his boys. He taught them how to hunt and fish, how to handle guns, and the value of hard work. He was a great shot and became a certified Police Expert Marksman.
Forest was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Mangum attaining the level of 32nd degree Mason and was a member of Trinity Baptist Church. He was very proud of his Masonic Lodge membership and his service to family, community and church. Forest was actively involved in the Rattlesnake Derby for many years and was recognized for his dedication to community activities.
Forest had a deep sense of loyalty to his family and returned to Mangum in 1990 to care for his mother and father in their declining years. Forest considered it an honor and a privilege to care for the parents that he dearly loved. After his parents passed away, Forest retired to Mexico where he spent his remaining years on the shores of Lake Chapala, peacefully watching the sun rise and set.
Forest was the youngest of three children born to John J and Clara Lillie (Price) Halford of Mangum, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents and older sister Joyce Fern (Halford) Wasson. He is survived by his older brother John Ross Halford of Austin, Texas, sons John Alden Halford and wife Nicki of Ojai, California and Forest Wayne Halford of Pleasant Grove, California, grandson Jasper Julian Halford of Pleasant Grove, California, nephew David Wasson of Cotati, California, nieces Sherri Nickles of Buda, Texas, Sue Goode of Jacksonville, Florida, and Mary Simmerman of Littleton, Colorado and many members of the extended Halford family.
Memorial services for Forest Halford will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, November 12, 2011, at Greer Funeral Home Chapel, in Mangum, with Pastor Shawn Johnson officiating.
Online tributes may be made to the family at www.GreerFuneral.com
11/12/2011
2:00 PM
Memorial
Greer Funeral Home
Mangum
OK
To send flowers in memory of Forest Earl Halford, visit the Tribute Store.
Thank you for sharing your
memory of Forest
Provide comfort for the family by sending flowers or planting a tree in memory of Forest Earl Halford.
Send Flowers
Loading...