Charlene Faye Forsyth

Charlene Brister Forsyth, formerly of Mineola, passed away August 6, 2011, in Waco. Funeral services were held at the First United Methodist Church of Mineola on August 8, 2011.

Charlene Forsyth was born September 7, 1923, to Charles and Callie Brister in Clay County, Texas. She grew up in the rural town of Blue Grove, Texas, near Henrietta. She went to school in Henrietta. In June, 1941, she married Henry Forsyth. They moved to Mineola in December, 1941, when Henry went to work for the Texas and Pacific Railroad. A son, W. C., was born in May, 1942, and a daughter, Phyllis Ann, was born in September, 1943.

In June, 1945, Henry Forsyth was drafted and sent to New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan for the duration of the war. During that time Charlene and the children went to live with her mother near Fort Worth. Charlene worked in a factory in Fort Worth.

After the war Henry and Charlene came back to Mineola and he resumed his work with the railroad. Through the years they were both involved in the First United Methodist Church and in community organizations. Charlene was room mother and member of the PTA for all the years the children were in school. Henry died in 1981 after suffering kidney disease for eight years.

In 1994 Charlene was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She moved to Waco in 1997 when she could no longer live alone. She died at St. Catherine's Nursing Home in Waco.

She is survived by son, W.C. ("Dub") Forsyth and wife Lori of Quitman; daughter, Phyllis Ann Hubbard and husband Paul of Waco; granddaughters, Terri Barron and husband Jeff of Caddo Mills, Marcy Thomas and husband Jeff of Honolulu, Hawaii, Leslie Butler and husband Scott of Fort Gratiot, Michigan, and Callie Tanner and husband Paul of Lacon, Illinois; great grandchildren, Alika, Kainoa, and Kainani of Honolulu and Drake and Grady of Fort Gratiot; sister-in-law, Darlene Reid and husband Joe of Rhome; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to your local Alzheimer's association.