William Bryan Forrester's Obituary
William (Bryan) Forrester – husband, father, preacher, teacher, counselor, painter, writer, storyteller and philosopher – passed away on January 22, 2021.
Born in 1932 and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, his early years were full of sports and friends. In high school, Bryan held 10 different offices in 5 school clubs and organizations. He earned multiple letters in Football, Track & Golf. His enjoyment of sports continued throughout his life as he cheered for the Cowboys and enjoyed running, having competed in over sixty 5K & 10K races all over the state. A scratch golfer, Bryan enjoyed playing the game or just hitting golf balls and watching Tiger.
Bryan served his country as U.S. Marine from 1951 to 1954. He was a sergeant in the 3rd Air Wing during the Korean war and earned the Korean Service Medal W/1*, United Nations Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct medal. After the Service, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in the School of Arts and Sciences from Memphis State University and then went on to SMU to earn a Masters of Divinity in 1960 and a Masters of Theology in 1961.
Bryan loved helping others through the ministry and later as a counselor. He spent his early career as a minister with several United Methodist Churches in Dallas. Bryan always said “he was better at the ministry and teaching part more than the formal preaching from the pulpit.” Bryan earned his Rehabilitation Counselors Certification, and for the majority of his professional career he was with Texas Rehabilitation Commission. In his role as a counselor, he was committed to helping adults who had suffered hardships rejoin the workforce. Bryan remained active in his Sunday school classes over the years. He loved preparing lessons which intellectually challenged his class, bringing together current events of the time to provide relevance. His faith and view of religion was very broad as he taught World Religions for many years at Richland College. Bryan wrote and compiled over 30 journals which were part of his lesson plans and had a particular affinity for Taoism, which he embraced alongside his Christianity.
Bryan was a lifelong learner and a voracious reader and scholar, which is why the TV was rarely switched on. He would read for understanding and ultimately find real life applications of what he had read, be it in the chapel, on the golf course or maybe something as simple as an inside tip he picked up at the track.
Bryan had a creative soul and was a writer and painter. He was often told that he should sell his works of art, but he quickly dismissed that by saying, “if my passion for painting became a job, it would no longer be a passion.” He was content to share his creations to any that would read, look or listen. Many of his works are displayed at the homes of his children and grandchildren. Bryan loved to visit the horse track on occasion and enjoyed the occasional fishing trip, which oftentimes led to an ever-growing fish tale like the one when he caught two fish at the same time.
Bryan is survived by his wife and soul mate of more than 50 years, Doneita Davidson Forrester, his sister Jean DeLong and her husband Neil of Olive Branch MS, his daughter Lynn Atchison and her husband Randy of Austin, and his son Glen Forrester of Dallas. Also by his stepson Jimmy Luker and his wife Caren of Yorba Linda CA, stepdaughters Catherine Brose and her husband Tyll of Carrollton TX, Deborah Streufert and her husband Kevin of Flower Mound TX, and Virginia Macnamara and her husband Olin of Austin, as well as his nieces Carrie Kernodle and her husband John of Knoxville, and Laurie Welch and her husband Steve of Olive Branch MS. Also by his grandchildren Hunter Atchison of Houston and Holly Atchison of Austin, Joshua Wade Luker and his wife Marley of Cedar Glen CA, Jason Luker of Denver CO, Melissa Velasquez and her husband Anthony of Colorado Springs CO, grandson Ian Brose and his wife Tracey of Peoria IL, and grandson Preston Streufert and his wife Kelsey of Austin.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at Atria Care Facility, Carrollton Regional Medical Center, Remarkable Rehabilitation, Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, Victoria Gardens in Frisco and Hospice Select.
Bryan will be laid to rest at Restland Memorial in Dallas. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Crossroads Community Services of Dallas.
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