Jane Forsythe

Jane Forsythe, 86, of Nederland, died Friday, March 24, 2023. She was born September 8, 1936, in Beaumont, to Nora Earle Carter Young and Allen Young.

After graduating from Beaumont High School in 1954, Jane attended one semester of college at Lamar University.  She left college and began working for Pure Oil/Unocal in February of 1955 at just eighteen years old.  She made many lifelong friends there and retired in 1991.  After retirement, which didn’t last long, she and Roger bought Wicks-N-Sticks at Central Mall.  She absolutely loved decorating the store and visiting with customers.  Being one that must always keep busy, she held other jobs including administrative secretary at UTMB in Galveston and helping Roger with the lawn service they operated at Crystal Beach.  Her last job was secretary at Wildwood-Village Mills United Methodist Church.  When she accepted the job at seventy-five years of age, she said she “was not yet ready to rock in her rocking chair”.

Jane married the love of her life, Roger, on May 25, 1955.  They were married sixty years when he passed away in 2015. They had four children, who were their pride and joy.  She was immensely proud of them and loved them more than life itself.  Her children and grandchildren will always remember the wonderful and loving mother and grandmother that she was.  She had the most loving, joyous, and positive spirit. She never gave up and always inspired others to do the same.  Her family knew without a doubt how she felt as she always ended visits with a big hug and the words, “be careful, and I love you, love you”.

Being a strong Christian, Jane had a deep faith and abiding love of God. When asked if she could live her life over, she said she wouldn’t change a thing other than spending more time studying God’s word. Her greatest life lesson that she would want to pass on is that nothing is more important than a close relationship with Jesus Christ.   She and Roger were active members of First Baptist Church in Nederland where they taught Sunday School for many years. After moving to Wildwood, they joined Wildwood-Village Mills United Methodist Church where Jane was a member of Methodist Women, the church choir, and various committees.  She loved singing and always participated in special music programs.

Jane’s great joys in life were trips to the beach which began when she was a child and her whole family would go for summer vacation.  Once she and Roger had children, the family spent every summer vacation at the beach. Her children also inherited her love of the beach and spending hours looking for shells.  She was so happy to live there for ten years with Roger later in life.  Jane also loved working in the yard and grew beautiful roses at every home they owned.  When she mowed the grass she would sing the gospel song, In The Garden. Jane loved cooking and was often busy in the kitchen cooking old family recipes for Roger, the kids, and grandkids.  Nothing made her happier than the family getting together for a delicious meal she had prepared. She loved living in Wildwood and the beauty of the spring there.  Much time was spent outside on the patio swing, drinking coffee, watching birds and deer, and waving at friends as they drove by.   She made so many dear friends there and was active in many Bunco groups, Red Hat groups, EOC Estate Sales, and the Home and Garden Club.

The last three years of Jane’s life were an inspiration to all who knew and loved her.  In January of 2020, she fell and broke her neck, which resulted in an inability to walk and limited use of her hands but that didn’t slow her down.  She moved into Bonne Vie where staff and residents quickly became friends and loved her dearly.  Her motorized chair enabled her to move around, and she was always on the go.  She participated in all activities including painting, bingo, poker, board games, travel outings, and more.  Jane would go to resident rooms inviting everyone to come participate…the more the merrier. She was so proud when she was asked to be the president of the Resident’s Council and took that job very seriously. During these years in her most trying and difficult times, she never gave up and kept her positive, joyous attitude and enduring faith being a true role model for all.  Her family will be forever grateful to the staff at Bonne Vie who loved Jane and took such great care of her over the years. She truly loved them dearly, and they loved her.

Jane’s family will miss her always but will carry her in their hearts every day and follow her example of following Christ, loving each other, loving life, and finding beauty everyday just as she did.

Survivors include her children, Melissa Forsythe and wife, Brenda Townsend, of Fort Worth; Jennifer Bertrand and husband, Darren, of Nederland; Brenda Bodin and husband, Robert, of Nederland; and Roger Forsythe, Jr. and wife, Amanda, of Orangefield; grandchildren, Erica Blackwell; Brady Blackwell; Christi McElroy and husband, Adam; Devin Bertrand; Reagan Contreras and husband, Josh; Slate Bodin; Michaela Stamey and husband, Carl; and Emma Forsythe; and great-grandchildren, Remmington Osborne; Lillian Godley; Harrison McElroy; and Holden McElroy.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roger Forsythe, Sr.; and sister, Belva Siebenthall.

A gathering of Mrs. Forsythe’s family and friends will begin at 9:00 a.m., with a memorial service at 10:00 a.m., April 1, 2023, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. Her cremation arrangements will be handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, 2050 Spindletop Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77705 or to Wildwood United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 332, Village Mills, Texas 77663.