Vera Kathleen (McMasters) Forrest

Vera Kathleen Forrest, age 91, of Mount Airy, NC, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at Northern Hospital of Surry County where she had been a resident of the Skilled Nursing Unit for 9 years.

The oldest of five children, she was born August 8, 1925 to Floyd and Hattie Lindley McMasters of Asheboro. She married Arthur Jackson Forrest on April 6, 1946. They were married over 60 Years until his death in June 2006. They made their home in Pilot Mountain and then in Independence, VA before moving to Mount Airy in 1965. Vera was a homemaker and loved cooking and canning the fruits and vegetables that she and Arthur grew in their garden. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed baking pies and homemade breads for family and friends, baking cookies with her grandchildren, walking with her neighbors, and reading the Bible. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. When the children were older, she worked part time at JC Penneys and then Baldwin’s Department store in Mount Airy where she enjoyed helping customers with household goods. She was a volunteer at Northern Hospital.  Above all, Vera was a devout Christian dedicated to God and His service. She dearly loved Calvary Baptist Church where she was a dedicated member, teacher, leader, and servant since 1965.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Jo Lynn and Chuck Johnson of Mount Airy; her son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Dianna Forrest of Wytheville, VA; sons, Tom Forrest of Greensboro and John Forrest of Mount Airy; grandchildren, Dr. Chris Johnson and wife, Christa of Winston-Salem; Eric Johnson of Mount Airy; Sean Johnson and wife, Hannah of Florence, Ky; Michelle Atallah and husband, John of Greensboro; Susan Spraker and husband, Michael of Rural Retreat, VA; Jack Forrest and wife, Jenny of Matthews, NC; and Laura Forrest of Baltimore, MD; and great-grandchildren, Grace Atallah; Jordyn, Grant, Daniel, and Maddoc Spraker; Ashlynne, Cole, and Kylee Forrest. She is also survived by a sister, Virginia Garner of Asheboro; brother, Ed McMasters and wife, Jettie of Asheboro; brothers Cleo McMasters and wife Beulah and Richard McMasters and wife Glenda of Ramseur; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two infant sons, Steven and Phillip Forrest.

Visitation will be held at Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, January 14, 2017 from 1 P.M. to 2 P.M. immediately followed by a funeral service at 2 P.M. officiated by Rev. Alex Martin. A family graveside service will follow in the Pilot Mountain City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 314 S Franklin Road, Mount Airy, NC 27030 or to the Skilled Nursing Unit at Northern Surry Hospital, 830 Rockford Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030.

The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the staff of the Skilled Nursing Unit of Northern Hospital for the professional and loving care provided to all of us over the past nine and a half years and to Mountain Valley Hospice for the compassionate care. “ In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” Matthew 25:40

Cox-Needham Funeral Home of Pilot Mountain (http://www.coxneedham.com, www.facebook.com/coxneedham) is respectfully serving the Forrest family.