Richard David Forte, age 71 of Monroe, passed away on February 8, 2018, at Abbey Hospice in Social Circle, after a short but intense battle with pancreatic/liver cancer. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on February 17, 2018 at the Loganville Chapel of Tim Stewart Funeral Home. Rev. Jerret Dooley will officiate. Visitation with family and friends will be held at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. After the service, everyone is invited to a reception to share refreshments and fellowship with the family at the First Baptist Church Loganville located adjacent to the funeral home. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.
Richard was born and raised in Atlanta, and graduated from Sylvan Hills High School, where in the 9th grade he met the girl he would spend the rest of his life with, Suzanne Smith. He retired from the General Motors Lakewood Assembly Plant in 1990 and he and Suzanne moved from Henry County to a beautiful piece of land and home in Jasper County. It was named “Green Acres” by their son. They spent 13 years there enjoying their retirement, having a little petting zoo for the grandchildren with goats, chickens, ducks, horses, and donkeys. The children and grandchildren loved visiting Green Acres, fishing, swimming and all the things kids of all ages like to do. It was Richard’s hope that the grandchildren would remember those days and relate them to their children and grandchildren. There’s no doubt that they will. Most of all he and Suzanne just enjoyed their retirement life together. Aside from spending time with his family, and taking care of the animals at “Green Acres”, his “hobby” was deer hunting with his childhood friend Jim Steedley. They were barely out of high school when they started hunting together and did so up until just a few years ago. He always said that Jim was just like a brother to him. Nothing made him any happier than to be up a tall pine tree before daylight when it was 15 degrees and wait for that elusive deer.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Mattie Manley Forte; brothers: Howard, Paul, and Gerald Forte; sisters: Betty Lee and Jackie Farnschlader; and son, David Forte. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Suzanne Forte of Monroe; Daughter and Son-in-law: Shelly & John Thiemann of Walnut Grove; Granddaughter: Dana Leigh Thiemann of Walnut Grove; Grandsons: Blake Richard Thiemann, currently serving with the US Navy in Charleston, South Carolina, and Joshua Joseph Forte of Winder; and Mother-in-law: Anne Dana of Monroe.
Flowers are appreciated, but please give some thought to contributing to his favorite local animal rescue group, Walton Animal Guild (http://www.wagwalton.com). WAG is a non-profit 501 c 3 organization. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and all personnel of Abbey Hospice in Social Circle for taking such good care of Richard in his last days. Enough can’t be said about the kindness and compassion they showed to him and the family, and that will be forever appreciated. Arrangements by Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 670 Tom Brewer Road, Loganville, GA 30052. 770-466-1544. Please sign the online guest registry at www.stewartfh.com
Reposted courtesy of Stewart Funeral Home.
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