Forrest Ray Harter, 75, passed away September 16, 2025.  He was born January 24, 1950 in Freeport, Texas to the late A. C. Harter and Ola Mae Smith Harter.

Forrest was one of the few Non-Catholic (Baptist) students who attended Blessing Elementary School.  He graduated from Tidehaven High School where ran Track and Field, starred in Drama and played football with the State Champion team in 1967.  He attended WCJC and then graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a lifetime teaching degree in 1972.  His classmate and lifelong BFF was Jesse Shindler.

He took an early retirement from the Texas Employment Commission  He was a writer, a cattleman and somewhat farmer.  He had a pecan and pear orchard (his grandparents were rice farmers).

Forrest enjoyed being "sampler" to his wife's sweets and baked goods and she loved her larger than life cowboy.  During their son's, Greg Carter's, youth they began attending church and The Carancahua Chapel under Bro. Hollie Briscoe.  Forrest served as a deacon.

He was a cat person like his father, A. C.  He loved and mourned deeply over Cooter, our very fist cat.  Later he rescued his three amigos Squeaky, Buddy and Lynx.  These were our other children.  All three slept and napped with Forrest until Buddy's recent departure.

He enjoyed being a grandfather.  He was proud of all  their accomplishments, especially when giving their hearts to the Lord.  Forrest was a homebody, living out on The Good Shepherd's Harter Ranch, which was 119 years old on February 6th of this year according to the 1906 Grimes Deed.

Survivors include his wife Sharon Ann Bannert Harter; children Micheille Denise Olszak, Gregory Glenn Carter, Jr. (Dana) and David Michael Miles (Haley); sisters Maria Tetur and Leah Harter; aunt Barbara Adams; grandchildren Logan and Dustin Carter, Kason and Kylie Klump, Hoyt Peck, Jennifer Capo (Matthew), Autumn Olszak & Michael and Devin Miles and great grandson Charlie Capo.

A memorial service honoring his life will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, September 22, 2025 at Calvary Baptist Church in Bay City.

Forrest's family wants to extend huge "Thank You" to Julianne Zapalac, PA and Drs. Liberoni and Hanna, Webster Heart Hospital Drs. And Staff, Angels Home Health with Joy King and Forrest's Maria, who called him "Boss Man".  We also want to express our thanks to Pastor Lane Par-Due and Calvary Baptist for feeding us both spiritually and physically.