Obituary of Esther Jeanne Forney

Esther Jeanne Forney passed away unexpectedly on Friday, April 10, 2009 at the age of 77. Esther was born July 29th, 1931 in Erie , Pennsylvania to the late Michael and Genevieve Stebell. Esther was the second of three children. She attended Academy High School in Erie where she was the lead majorette and became an accomplished violinist. Upon completing high school, Esther was crowned Miss Erie 1949. She went on to college at Temple University and graduated with a degree in Nursing. In 1956, she married her beloved husband of 52 years, Dr. William R. Forney. Bill Esther lived in Philadelphia while he completed his internship and residency in pediatrics. As the wife of a young naval medical officer, military life took Esther from Philadelphia to Beaufort , S.C. , and Oakland CA . The couple, along with their four sons, moved to Seattle where Bill started the Richmond Pediatric Clinic in Richmond Beach . In addition to raising four sons, Esther worked in the pediatric clinic and in the real estate business. She was also involved with the Guild for Childrens Hospital and Stevens Hospital . In addition to her outside activities, Esther was an artist and the kitchen was her canvas. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed feeding anyone who entered her domain. Esther was a fantastic wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was always there and the tie-that-binds in managing a household of men. She will be profoundly missed. Esther is preceded by her oldest son Bill Jr. She is survived by her husband Bill Sr., her sons Alan (Teresa), Eric, and Steve, daughter-in-law, Jennifer, her older brother Francis (Frank) Stebell, younger sister Judy Taylor, grandchildren TJ, Bronson and Alyssa, as well as various nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Childrens Hospital, 4800 Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105.