Frances "Ellen" Forehand
July 9, 1941 ~ November 2, 2023 (age 82) 82 Years Old
Frances "Ellen" Forehand Obituary
Frances "Ellen" Hemphill Forehand, of Duncan, Oklahoma, was born July 9, 1941 in Port Arthur, Texas to Jack Scott and Vernon Lee Velma (Handley) Hemphill. She completed her earthly journey surrounded by her children on Thursday, November 2, 2023, in Oklahoma City. She was 82 years old.
The family will receive visitors on Monday, November 6, between 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Whitt Funeral Home. Funeral services are planned for Tuesday, November 7, at 1:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Mark Jardine officiating, assisted by Kathy Gibson. Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitt Funeral Home.
Ellen graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1959 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In her youth, Ellen was a proud member of the Internal Order of the Rainbow Girls (IORG), a Masonic youth services organization that teaches leadership through community service. While studying archaeology at the University of Texas in Austin, Ellen lived in the Scottish Rite Dormitory that was built and operated by the Scottish Rite of Freemasons. Archaeology was her first academic interest, and she participated in several archeological digs.
Ellen married Gilbert H. Forehand on January 31, 1970 in Alexandria, Louisiana, and they remained husband and wife for fifty years until Gil's passing in 2020. The couple moved to Duncan in 1978 when Gil began working as an electrical engineer for Halliburton Services. She and Gil were active members of the First United Methodist Church over the last 40 years, serving as both volunteers and leaders on many boards and committees.
Ellen enjoyed a variety of careers that included working for the Economic Development Foundation as a federal employee and being a top-selling Tupperware Manager both in Austin and Duncan. She later received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cameron University and was employed as a Social Services Director for Duncan Family Care Nursing Home and Duncan Regional Hospital. Ellen was very active in her community and her church. She was a member of the Owl Club, a part of the General Federation of Women Club, an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) holding various positions of leadership within the organization. She enjoyed playing bridge and bunco, more for the social interaction instead of actually winning, and she always looked forward to attending her grandchildren's various school and sports activities.
Preceded in death by her beloved husband and parents, Ellen is survived by her children: Sean and wife Susan Forehand of Grand Junction, Colorado; Laura MacDonald of Grand Junction, Colorado; Stephanie and husband Allen Gates of Duncan; and three grandchildren, Sydney Spruiell, Kaden Gates, and Christian Gates.
Online condolences can be made at www.whittfh.com.
The family will receive visitors on Monday, November 6, between 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Whitt Funeral Home. Funeral services are planned for Tuesday, November 7, at 1:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Mark Jardine officiating, assisted by Kathy Gibson. Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitt Funeral Home.
Ellen graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1959 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In her youth, Ellen was a proud member of the Internal Order of the Rainbow Girls (IORG), a Masonic youth services organization that teaches leadership through community service. While studying archaeology at the University of Texas in Austin, Ellen lived in the Scottish Rite Dormitory that was built and operated by the Scottish Rite of Freemasons. Archaeology was her first academic interest, and she participated in several archeological digs.
Ellen married Gilbert H. Forehand on January 31, 1970 in Alexandria, Louisiana, and they remained husband and wife for fifty years until Gil's passing in 2020. The couple moved to Duncan in 1978 when Gil began working as an electrical engineer for Halliburton Services. She and Gil were active members of the First United Methodist Church over the last 40 years, serving as both volunteers and leaders on many boards and committees.
Ellen enjoyed a variety of careers that included working for the Economic Development Foundation as a federal employee and being a top-selling Tupperware Manager both in Austin and Duncan. She later received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cameron University and was employed as a Social Services Director for Duncan Family Care Nursing Home and Duncan Regional Hospital. Ellen was very active in her community and her church. She was a member of the Owl Club, a part of the General Federation of Women Club, an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) holding various positions of leadership within the organization. She enjoyed playing bridge and bunco, more for the social interaction instead of actually winning, and she always looked forward to attending her grandchildren's various school and sports activities.
Preceded in death by her beloved husband and parents, Ellen is survived by her children: Sean and wife Susan Forehand of Grand Junction, Colorado; Laura MacDonald of Grand Junction, Colorado; Stephanie and husband Allen Gates of Duncan; and three grandchildren, Sydney Spruiell, Kaden Gates, and Christian Gates.
Online condolences can be made at www.whittfh.com.
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