Gayle Elizabeth (Post) Forster

Gayle Elizabeth Forster, née Post, passed in her sleep on May 16, 2022, at home in Howell, Michigan. She was born March 23, 1956, in Carmel, California, and grew up in Big Sur and Goleta, California. She loved exploring the outdoors with her sisters and valued the precious mountainous and coastal regions of California. She was an avid equestrian from her childhood and spent much of her time riding horses in Big Sur and showing horses in Santa Barbara. She was involved in Future Farmers of America and 4-H, and graduated from Salinas High School in 1974. In 1979 she married Eric Forster in Big Sur, and their shared adventures included exploring nature and raising four sons in Marina, California.

She had a charitable spirit and was always generous with her creativity, time, and knowledge. Gayle had a knack for focusing her attention on a conversation, and spending time with her always made people feel as though they were worthy of both her time and undivided attention. Without fail, she always put others before herself. She helped coach the city league’s soccer teams when her sons were younger and volunteered at 4-H to help children with special needs socialize with horses and other animals.

Gayle truly cherished life’s simple moments: spending quality time with family, nurturing animals, being at one with nature, and both creating and listening to music. In her retirement, she followed her dreams of setting up a farmstead and being near grandchildren and moved from California to Michigan. Her horses, mules, pigs, turkeys, ducks, geese, chickens, dogs, and cats were tended to with love and pride, and her grandchildren loved learning from her and helping her care for the animals. Gayle’s passions and curiosities spanned visual and performing arts, including stained glass, stamping, painting, crochet, archery, and belly and line dancing. Her musical inclinations were equally as varied, using guitars, dulcimers and banjos, and she loved playing and singing folk and bluegrass songs. Gayle was dependable, supportive, and invested in learning about others’ interests, even when they differed vastly from her own. In her community in Howell, she was known to everyone as “Grandma Gayle”.  She was fiercely loyal to her family, proud of their accomplishments, and pragmatic and understanding when they needed a boost. Her family will continue to channel her love and tenacity, and will miss her dearly.

Gayle was preceded in death by husband, Eric Forster, her dear parents, Bill and Luci Post, and her sister Nancy Lee Downing. She is survived by her mother Lynn Ballard, sisters Linda Lee and Rebecca Post, half-brother Sean Ballard, sons Gabriel (Jessica), Richard, Shane, Daniel, and grandchildren, Ella Mae, Logan Sampson, Evan Michael.

A viewing for family was held on May 21, and no formal services are planned at this time. Donations can be made to local 4-H, local Future Farmers of America, and Pregnant Mare Rescue in Gayle’s memory. Please leave a message of comfort for Gayle’s family at 1-877-231-7900, or sign her guestbook at www.borekjennings.com

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