Vennie Lee (Massey) Forest

Vennie was born October 24, 1931 in Willow City, Texas.  She lived a rural life with her parents working various farms throughout the Hill Country.  There were 6 children in the family. Her siblings Melba Amy Massey (Otto) 1914-1989, William (Bill)  Wesley Massey (1916-1984), Jasper Manzy (Jap) Massey (1919-2001), Faye Viola Massey (Muller) 1927-1986, and Clayton Albert Massey (1929-1997). 

When Vennie was a little older she would go to different farms and work during the day taking care of children.  When school was out she spent summers with other families taking care of the children as well.   Times were hard and everyone no matter what age had to contribute. She said she got a walnut for Christmas one year and never forgot it. 

 Vennie attended school in Harper until she was a freshman in high school.  At the age of 15, she left home and moved to Kerrville and found work in the 5 and 10 and the local movie theater.  She lived in a boarding house as was the custom at the time. 

At age 15 as well she met her future husband, Reece Stevens "Steve" Forest.  They were married on April 3, 1949 in Kerrville.  They moved to Boerne, where their first child was born, Stevens Patrick Forest in 1956.  He was soon followed by his twin sisters Diane Carla and Jan Darla in 1957.  Vennie had 3 children all in diapers at the same time, running out getting into everything.  She was a mother, homemaker, rancher until 1975.  

 In 1975-1976, she attended Cosmetology School and graduated and began her new career as a hairdresser.  She opened her own business called His-N-Hers and worked there and various places until she was 81 years of age.  She thoroughly enjoyed the people and making them "beautiful."  She and Steve build a new house and moved to his family ranch in Bandera, 1977. 

She suffered an AVM in 1985, which brought about a craniotomy (brain surgery).  Vennie #1 passed that day and Vennie #2 was born.  This was probably the most significant factor in her entire life.  She had to learn to speak correctly, walk, answer the telephone and day-to-day activities.  She never fully recovered all of her functions, but did her best to cover it up.

In 1993, she and her husband divorced and she moved back to Kerrville.  Then in 1997 she had new built a new house for herself.  She was so proud of this achievement (as she should have been).  She enjoyed her independence at her new home until she moved to Del Rio.  She finally retired at age 81 and spent her days outside working in the yard, going out to eat and attending the Dietert Claim events for seniors.

As time went on, Vennie was having a lot of issues with the early onset of frontotemporal dementia due to her craniotomy.  So in 2016, she and her 2 daughters each sold their homes and moved to Del Rio, Texas to be closer to their brother so that mother could spend time with all of us.  She enjoyed Holidays and other special occasions with the "family."   She was very healthy  most of her life up until she was 92, she spent the last 6 months bedbound at home (on hospice) with her daughters caring for her until her final day November 23, at 11:04 a.m.  Her daughters were taking her vital signs when she took her last breath and very peacefully went to "see Jesus" as she always said.  

She leaves behind loved ones to cherish her memory; Stevens Patrick Forest (son) Dryden, Texas, Diane Forest Cowden (twin daughter) Del Rio, Texas, Jan Darla Forest (twin daughter) Del Rio, TX, Kelsa Leenette Cowden (granddaughter), Ashley Friederich (granddaughter) and Tyler Blake Hargis (great grandson)

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