Patricia Lee Forney (Pat), long time Fort Collins resident and beloved wife of Jack Donovan Forney passed away January 28, 2024, in Fort Collins in the presence of five generations of her family.
Pat was born in Lytton, Iowa, to Lee Frank Effner and Lucille Effner on November 2, 1929. She moved to Fort Collins as a young child and has remained here all her life. Her father was tragically killed when she was 10 years old and the family struggled through the Depression Years overcoming the difficulties of the time. She graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1947.
She married her high school sweetheart, Jack Donovan Forney, on May 15, 1949. Later that year, they moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to set up Forney Distributing, a company that distributed Forney products to states in the eastern portion of the United States. This was an ambitious endeavor for two young newlyweds. While in Des Moines, two daughters, Cheryl and Vanessa were born. The family relocated back to Fort Collins late in 1953 where Jack managed the manufacturing plant of Forney Industries.
Pat and Jack were dedicated to their church, LifePointe Church. They had been continuously active at LifePointe since they were teenagers when it was known as First Baptist on Remington Street in Fort Collins. Pat served with the Sunday School and Bible School programs for years. She was a Pioneer Girls leader and was always up for some adventure with the girls including camping and a memorable field trip to San Francisco with teenagers during the Haight Ashbury years. She also met faithfully every Monday afternoon with the committee that counted the offerings.
Jack and Pat were involved with several ministry organizations such as Child Evangelism, Good News Clubs, Global Connections, International, and Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU). Their involvement in spreading the gospel has been their passion.
Pat was a longtime member of Beta Sigma Phi and served that organization for nearly 67 years. She held several offices and even planned state conventions.
Pat enjoyed decorating cakes and produced many wedding cakes in her time. Several county fairs in Colorado invited her to judge cakes for them. She also spent many hours working in and enjoying her yard. Her flower beds were always bright and colorful.
Survivors include daughters Cheryl Klinker of Wellington, Colorado, and Vanessa Forney of Lompoc, California. Pat loved her granddaughters Carey Tritle and husband, Jason, of Alliance, Nebraska, and Christina Townsend and husband Ashley, of Wellington, Colorado. Their families include five great grandchildren, Caitlyn Tritle Hill and husband Keagan of Omaha, Nebraska; Cayla Tritle of Lincoln, Nebraska; Cameron Tritle of Omaha, Nebraska; Melissa Townsend Thrush and husband Connor of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Sgt. Matthew Townsend USMC and wife Carma of Farmington, Minnesota. Also included are two step grandsons, Jon Klinker and his wife, Lisa, and two great grandsons Jordan and Jace, and Aaron Klinker, all of Laramie Wyoming. The family is blessed with Pat's great-great granddaughters, Amelia Jillaine Townsend, daughter of Sgt. Matt and Carma Townsend and Maizie Grace, daughter of Connor and Melissa Thrush. Pat is also survived by her sister Jo Huffman and husband Curt, of Conifer, Colorado, and son Jerry; sister-in-law Marsha Effner of Windsor, Colorado and sons Mike and Scott Effner; and sister-in-law, Donna Forney, of Fort Collins and her children Steve Anderson and wife, Terri, and family, and Jan Mowery and husband, Brian, and family.
A funeral service will be held 1 pm, Friday, February 2, 2024 at LifePointe Church, 900 E. Prospect. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. The service may be live streamed at this address
https://vimeo.com/event/4058012/26c44717a1
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider the following organizations as memorials: LifePointe Church, Global Connections, International and Campus Crusade for Christ.
LifePointe Church
https://sharethelife.org
Global Connections International
https://gciworld.org
Campus Crusade for Christ
www.cru.org
Forney Museum of Transportation
www.forneymuseum.org