Gary Dean Forgy

At 2:22pm on December 30, 2025, Gary Dean Forgy, laid down his hard-fought, heartfelt, been-through -hell Hallelujah at the feet of Jesus having won his years long battle with cancer.

Gary was born on November 23, 1969, in St. Louis, Missouri to Gary Edward Forgy and Cheryl Denise Forgy. Gary was born the first of three children and thus began his role as leader. He was followed by his brother Tim, and sister, Denise. After the passing of his dad, Gary Edward, God sent Charles "Chuck" Zinn to stand in the gap as husband and bonus dad until his homegoing in 2020.

Gary spent the early years of his life growing up in Cahokia, Illinois. He moved to East Texas as a young adult, where he planned to attend college and earn a business degree. God had other plans. East Texas was where he would meet a cute little thing named Donna. Donna had spent her early years growing up in a neighboring town in Illinois, before moving to East Texas herself. Their schools were rivals in sports and it is highly probable that their paths crossed back in Illinois without either one realizing it. But as we know, nothing is ever by accident or coincidence, God had a plan. In the beginning she found him to be loud and a little annoying and he kept showing up at the places where she would be. But he could make her giggle, so she finally decided to go on a date with him. They soon fell in love and married on December 29,1990 in McLeansboro, Illinois. For the next 35 years he would continue to make her giggle and every now and then, he would still annoy her.

Gary and Donna built a life based on their love for the Lord and for each other. Their home was blessed with love, laughter, and children. Their heritage began with the first born, Gary James, followed by Heather and Gabby. Their heritage continued to grow and be blessed when the grandbabies came. They call them grand for a reason and secret can finally be let out that he loved Wyatt, Charlie, McKenna, Lucas and Liam the most.

Gary was one of the hardest working, most selfless men you could ever meet. He worked multiple jobs to provide for his family and often did without to make sure they had everything they needed and wanted. He ALWAYS put his family before himself.

Gary was smart, funny, loving, adventurous, and bold. He loved to read and was either starting a new book, or about to finish one. He would start up a conversation with anyone about anything. He never met a stranger; If he met you once, he was your friend for life. He truly had a gift for making everyone laugh and feel loved.

The only thing Gary loved more than the Lord, his family, and others was sports. He was an exceptional athlete who loved all sports. If he wasn't playing sports, he was watching sports, especially his favorite teams the St. Louis Cardinals and the Missouri Tigers.

Gary and the life he led cannot be summed up with mere words, sentences, or paragraphs. It is impossible to encompass all that he was and how he will carry on in the hearts of those who love him.

Gary was preceded in death by his father, Gary Edward Forgy, his brother Timothy Lee Forgy, and bonus father, Charles "Chuck" David Zinn.

Those left to carry his legacy and love in their hearts are his wife, Donna Mae Forgy, children Gary James Forgy, his wife Anna and son Lucas, Heather Jordan Forgy Dodson, her husband Addison, and their children, Wyatt and McKenna, Gabrielle Brooke Forgy and sons Charlie and Liam, mother Cheryl Denise Zinn and sister Denise Michele Forgy Spruiell, her husband John, and son Seth, a host of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.