Ella Margaret Forbes
May 1, 1939 — September 3, 2019
Ella Margaret (Stevens) Forbes, 80 of Jacksonville passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville with her family by her side.
Ella was born in Spring Creek, Florida on May 1, 1939, the second of six children of BB and Kalaska "Tug" Stevens.
She attended Wakulla County Schools and graduated from Crawfordville High School in 1957. There, she was voted most athletic, as she excelled in softball.
She would go on to play for many years, with different travel teams and would play in the National Slow Pitch Softball World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. After her playing career ended, she would go on to coach little league baseball and softball. In recognition of years of dedication, she was the first woman elected to the Tallahassee-Leon County Sports Hall of Fame. She was a lifelong supporter of Florida State athletics, especially softball and football.
During her years in Wakulla County she also worked at Mike's Marine Supply in Panacea, as she had grown up around the fishing industry, and the water was something she held close to her heart. She would work several years here before moving to Jacksonville in 1982.
In her later years, she worked with the former St. Luke's Hospital (presently Mayo Clinic) where she would eventually retire.
In her spare time, Ella could often be found with a rod and reel in her hand. Whether at several spots around Jacksonville that she frequented, or at home, tinkering and repairing rods and reels, both for herself and for others that would seek her guidance. After her health declined and she was no longer able to fish as she once did, Ella loved going to internet game rooms with her best friend, Donna. They would spend hours at their favorite game rooms and become regulars. Donna was her closest friend for many, many years and was a dedicated caregiver as well.
Ella loved her family dearly and her favorite times were when they all came together for birthdays and holidays.
She is preceded in death by her beloved grandson: Ryan Forehand; her parents; her brothers: Ralph Stevens and Buddy Stevens; and her former husband and lifelong friend: Henry M. Forbes Sr.
Ella leaves behind to cherish the memories: her daughter: Denise (Kimmie Carman) Forehand of Tallahassee; her son: H.M. "Hank" Forbes Jr. of Lake City; her sisters: Beatrice (Larry) Davis of Daytona Beach, Gladys (Neil Hostnick) Kilgore of Crawfordville, and Kathy (Lin) Galloway of Spring Creek; longtime best friend: Donna Hicks of Jacksonville; grandson and fishing partner: Hawke M.T. (Kelsey Strickland) Forbes of Macclenny; granddaughters: Amy Hume of Tallahassee, and Jillian Hill of McDonough, Georgia; 3 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law: Dana Richards Forbes of Macclenny; sister-in-law: Maxine Smith of Spring Creek; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members and friends.
A visitation will be held Thursday, September 5, 2019 in the Family Memorial Chapel of Forbes Funeral Home, Macclenny, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm.
The family will receive friends Friday, September 6, 2019 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Christian Worship Center, Crawfordville.
Services will be held Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 11:00 am at Christian Worship Center, Crawfordville.
She will be laid to rest in Crawfordville Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of H.M. "Hank" Forbes Jr. and Hawke M.T. Forbes of Forbes Funeral Home, Macclenny. 904-259-4600. Please leave your thoughts and condolences for the family in the online guestbook at www.forbesfuneralhome.net.
409 W Macclenny Ave
Macclenny, FL, 32063
3922 Coastal Hwy.
Crawfordville, FL, 32327
3922 Coastal Hwy.
Crawfordville, FL, 32327
Ella was born in Spring Creek, Florida on May 1, 1939, the second of six children of BB and Kalaska "Tug" Stevens.
She attended Wakulla County Schools and graduated from Crawfordville High School in 1957. There, she was voted most athletic, as she excelled in softball.
She would go on to play for many years, with different travel teams and would play in the National Slow Pitch Softball World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. After her playing career ended, she would go on to coach little league baseball and softball. In recognition of years of dedication, she was the first woman elected to the Tallahassee-Leon County Sports Hall of Fame. She was a lifelong supporter of Florida State athletics, especially softball and football.
During her years in Wakulla County she also worked at Mike's Marine Supply in Panacea, as she had grown up around the fishing industry, and the water was something she held close to her heart. She would work several years here before moving to Jacksonville in 1982.
In her later years, she worked with the former St. Luke's Hospital (presently Mayo Clinic) where she would eventually retire.
In her spare time, Ella could often be found with a rod and reel in her hand. Whether at several spots around Jacksonville that she frequented, or at home, tinkering and repairing rods and reels, both for herself and for others that would seek her guidance. After her health declined and she was no longer able to fish as she once did, Ella loved going to internet game rooms with her best friend, Donna. They would spend hours at their favorite game rooms and become regulars. Donna was her closest friend for many, many years and was a dedicated caregiver as well.
Ella loved her family dearly and her favorite times were when they all came together for birthdays and holidays.
She is preceded in death by her beloved grandson: Ryan Forehand; her parents; her brothers: Ralph Stevens and Buddy Stevens; and her former husband and lifelong friend: Henry M. Forbes Sr.
Ella leaves behind to cherish the memories: her daughter: Denise (Kimmie Carman) Forehand of Tallahassee; her son: H.M. "Hank" Forbes Jr. of Lake City; her sisters: Beatrice (Larry) Davis of Daytona Beach, Gladys (Neil Hostnick) Kilgore of Crawfordville, and Kathy (Lin) Galloway of Spring Creek; longtime best friend: Donna Hicks of Jacksonville; grandson and fishing partner: Hawke M.T. (Kelsey Strickland) Forbes of Macclenny; granddaughters: Amy Hume of Tallahassee, and Jillian Hill of McDonough, Georgia; 3 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law: Dana Richards Forbes of Macclenny; sister-in-law: Maxine Smith of Spring Creek; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members and friends.
A visitation will be held Thursday, September 5, 2019 in the Family Memorial Chapel of Forbes Funeral Home, Macclenny, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm.
The family will receive friends Friday, September 6, 2019 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Christian Worship Center, Crawfordville.
Services will be held Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 11:00 am at Christian Worship Center, Crawfordville.
She will be laid to rest in Crawfordville Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of H.M. "Hank" Forbes Jr. and Hawke M.T. Forbes of Forbes Funeral Home, Macclenny. 904-259-4600. Please leave your thoughts and condolences for the family in the online guestbook at www.forbesfuneralhome.net.
Visitation
SEP 5. 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM (EDT)
Forbes Funeral Home409 W Macclenny Ave
Macclenny, FL, 32063
Visitation
SEP 6. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (EDT)
Christian Worship Center3922 Coastal Hwy.
Crawfordville, FL, 32327
Service
SEP 7. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT)
Christian Worship Center3922 Coastal Hwy.
Crawfordville, FL, 32327
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ella Margaret Forbes, please visit our flower store.