Eugene Mat "Gene" Forrister

Services celebrating the life and legacy of Gene Forrister will be held on Friday September 25, 2009 at Redding Christian Fellowship. The viewing will be 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the memorial will begin at 11 a.m.
Much loved son, brother, husband, dad, grandpa and friend, he went home to be with the Lord on September 19, 2009. He blessed us with his love, humor, charm, generosity, and his great story telling for 69 years.
Gene was born to his loving parents Alvin and Marjorie Forrister in Chico, CA, on December 9, 1939. Gene grew up working in the family owned, "The City Bakery" as a Bakery Brat, which was located on Market Street in Redding from 1952 to 1972. During those years in the bakery he learned to bake, run a business, and boy what a cake decorator he was. He never lost his talent for decorating, having made the cake for his son Kurt's wedding, and several other birthday cakes for his grandchildren. He graduated from Shasta High School in 1957, and married Shirley Friebel with whom he had three children, two sons David and Kurt, and a daughter Marjorie.
He married wife Vicki Wright and they had two children a girl Alicia, and a boy named Travis. In 1974 Gene moved his family to Albany, OR where he enrolled at Oregon State University in the Dental program. He attended Dental School, but then decided to learn the art of being a Dental Ceramist. He learned his trade by studying, using books, and with the help and knowledge of his lifelong friend, Dr. Neal Craig.
Ceramicast Dental Laboratory was opened in 1975 in the "dungeon" of Doctors Cooley, Craig, and Rohrbaugh. The skills he acquired prior to opening the lab allowed him to have a lifelong and successful career. In 1980 his son Kurt joined him, and for 30 years they worked side by side. His brother Jonathan also, learned the trade with him, and opened his own lab in Redding. Jonathan eventually employed sons David and Travis. David later went on to open his own dental laboratory.
After 18 years in Albany, Gene relocated to the Redding, CA area in 1992 and opened Genesis Dental Lab. His first accounts in Redding were Dr. James Crummett, and Dr. Shawn Wilson. He considered them his business associates, but more importantly his friends. He continues to share hunting adventures, stories and friendship with Dr. Wilson to this day. It was Gene's youngest son Travis who for years had a vision that one day all the boys would work with their dad, and Gene shared his vision. On July 1, 2007 the dream was realized, when David merged his laboratory Adonai Dental Lab with Gene and Kurt's Lab Genesis Dental Laboratory, and Travis joined in and became a partner. The business name was changed appropriately to Forrister Laboratories, Inc. Gene was extremely proud that the lab also employed his granddaughter Jessica and his two grandsons Drew and Jeremiah. He was also very proud of his lifelong friendship with Ed Thayer. They shared adventures, fun times and loved each other immensely. He married Patricia "Patti" Carmichael in 1995 and they had a love that was everlasting. Their union created a huge family as Patti brought four children, a stepdaughter, and her parents who became known as Grandma Nellie and Grandpa Harvey to all of us. The blended family total nine children, and there are a total of 23 grandchildren. He treated each and every one of Patti's children, grandchildren, and her parents as if they were his own. He felt blessed to have each and every one of them in his life. Gene is survived by loving mother Marjorie, father-in-law Dr. E. Harvey McGuire, brother Jonathan and wife Treva, sister Elana (husband Butch) Crotto, nephew Gabriel (wife Christy) Forrister, niece Amber (husband Josh) Burlew, and niece Angela Crotto. Sons David (wife Virginia), Kurt (wife Lisa), Travis (wife Kerri), Jimi (wife Alicia) and Jason (wife Valerie). Daughters Marjorie (husband Jeff) Donnard, Alicia, Carrie (husband Barry) Beale, Cathy (husband Michael) Christenson. Granddaughters-Jessica, Shawna, Savannah, Camille, Tifani, Khloe, Baylee, Kelli Mae, Ailish, Jacie and Corrine, grandsons - Drew, Jeremiah, Eric, Jacob, Michael, Steven, Zachary, Lucas, Landon, Logan, Lewis and Liam. He had forged friendships with numerous special people, too many to mention, but each and everyone were loved and never forgotten. Gene loved the outdoors having spent his life camping, hunting and fishing. He loved being with his family. And we cannot forget his other children the ones with tails Rowdie, Emily and Jackson. LOVING HUSBAND GENE - Our time together has been the very best part of my life. You are the one who knows me best, and gave me peace, contentment and passion for life and living. You were the father my children always craved and, and it made me love you even more deeply. I know you are with our Lord, our faith in God and love of family are what brought us together and what will keep us safe, until we are together again. I will love you and never forget you, always Patti