James Forbes, 79

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James Merl Forbes, 79 , of New Douglas died Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, at 10:40 a.m. at his residence in rural New Douglas.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at Becker and Son Funeral Home in Mt. Olive. Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Dale Skeesick officiating.

Burial will be in New Douglas Cemetery in New Douglas. Lunch for family and friends will be held at the Assembly of God Church Hall, 1330 North Hackman in Staunton.

Mr. Forbes was born on Sept. 4, 1936, in rural New Douglas, the son of the late James Berson and Ida Mae (Arndt) Forbes. He married Marilyn Ann Schoen on May 7, 1955, at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive, and she survives in New Douglas. 

He attended school in Marine and several country schools. He attended Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive, and owned and operated J. M. Builders for over 20 years and retired from Rural King in Litchfield in 2012. 

Mr. Forbes enjoyed woodworking, gardening, hunting, fishing and riding horses and raising Long Horn Cattle. 

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Allen (Suzie) Forbes of Gillespie and Kenny Forbes of Murray Center in Centralia; one daughter, Lori Wilhelm of Staunton; nine grandchildren, Amy (Jeff) Ruyle, Megan Wilhelm, Amanda (Steve) Provost, Marty Forbes, Jordan Martin, Reese Marshall, Justin (Jada) Wilhelm, Scott Forbes and Mike Forbes; eight great-grandchildren, Lydia Graves, Hunter and Conner Forbes, Malory, Catherine and Reeser Ruyle and Sophia and Clayton Wilhelm; four sisters, Velma Talick of New Douglas, Laverne Slightom of Carlinville, Lorraine Jackson of Benld and Jean Fox of Dawson; and one brother, Ron Forbes of Sorento.

Memorials may be made to the family or Murray Center in Centralia.

Condolences may be left at beckerandson.com.