Jimmy Wayne Forrester

Jimmy Wayne Forrester was born April 7, 1949 to Avanell and J.O. Forrester in Oklahoma City, OK. It was apparent from a young age that Jimmy would “march to the beat of his own drum“, which he joyfully continued to do until he passed from this life to the next on September 23, 2025 in Edmond, OK.

Jimmy loved to tell stories about his early exploits and many of them centered around the people he met at school and at the little grocery store, Jim’s, where he worked near their family home. He had an excellent memory about such things and could remember exactly which cars had Hurst Shifters, Holly Four-Barrel carburetors, and any number of different parts that had been switched from one old hot-rod or motorcycle to the other. Jimmy told the stories with such enthusiasm you could almost smell the gasoline and hear the tires squeal.

When the Vietnam War started, young men in Oklahoma City were being drafted according to their zip code, and when Jimmy and a friend down the street found out their time was near, they both enlisted in the US Army November 22, 1968. Jimmy’s love of cars worked to his advantage in the Army where after basic training at Fort Polk in Louisiana and Fort Rucker in Alabama, he was sent to Germany where he learned to drive large trucks. In Vietnam, Jimmy drove a variety of different vehicles through the jungles, carrying essential supplies, weapons, and heavy equipment. After one particularly bad day in Vietnam, Jimmy received a letter from his sister Carmen, telling him that his niece Brandy had been born. He said he would never forget that day and that letter. Jimmy received his honorable discharge from the US Army on November 19, 1971.

Back home, Jimmy went to work for a local plumbing company and soon received his plumbing license. He would later start his own plumbing company and would often brag about the big houses he worked on in Nichols Hills, and about being a “Cadillac“ plumber who only installed the best US Made fixtures, and “none of that foreign junk“. Jimmy loved living on and fixing up his 10 acres of land, his dog Sheba always by his side. He could go hunting right outside his front door and almost always had a large garden with tomatoes, green beans, and many other interesting plants.

Family was a huge part of Jimmy’s life. He and his beloved Mom shared not only an April 7th birthday, but also the intense desire to always win at any card, dominos, or any other game they ever played. His older sister Jody and husband Charles were always there to provide him with love, Levi‘s at Christmas, and lots of good advice. His younger sister Carmen was always, always Jimmy’s best friend, and they spent a lifetime laughing, crying, and always looking out for one another. As one might expect, Jimmy taught his nephews how to drive go-carts, shoot guns, protect your face when you fight, turn Led Zepplin up as loud as it can go, and any number of other things he thought the younger generation needed to be taught. He loved his niece Brandy so much he taught her the simple truth that most boys were bad and should never really be trusted. Jimmy taught his grand-nephew, Sam, how to use tools and build things. When Sam was younger, he bought him a John Deere Gator for the backyard and eventually every John Deere toy Jimmy could find.

Jimmy Wayne Forrester is survived by his sister Jody Vining, nephews Scott Vining & wife Rose, Mike Vining & wife Linda, niece Brandy Binkley, grand-nephew Sam Binkley, and an entire squadron of cousins, friends, neighbors, classic car enthusiasts, old girlfriends, and all of his forever-young Army buddies.

Rest in peace Jimmy. You are loved and we will never forget you.