Dorothy LaForest

TAMMS, Ill. — Dorothy "Dot" LaForest, 79, of Tamms died Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Jan. 29, 1929, in Gardner, Tenn., to William and Vergie Reynolds Montgomery. She and Lester E. "Frenchie" LaForest were married April 18, 1967. He died Nov. 11, 1998.

LaForest founded the Happy Helpers Pantry in 1982. She was a member of the AARP, NRA and DAV. She served as the Tamms correspondent for The Monday's Pub. She was a member of Trinity Assembly of God Church in Olive Branch, Ill.

Survivors include three sons, Harry Nash of South Fulton, Tenn., Arlie "Sonny" Brown of Brandenburg, Ky., Tony LaForest of Jackson; a daughter, Gail Simon of Gadsden, Ala.; three sisters, Carolyn Martin, Ann Morrow and Linda Brown, all of South Fulton; two brothers, Kenneth and Larry Brown of Union City, Tenn.; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchilden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and two grandsons.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, and after noon Saturday at Trinity Assembly of God Church.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. John Fuller officiating. Burial will be in Lindsey Cemetery in McClure, Ill.