Garland Ray Forman Sr.

February 24, 1938
— March 8, 2025

BAYOU CHICOT - Garland Ray Forman Sr., a loving father, grandfather, and pillar of the community entered his eternal home on Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Ville Platte, at the age of 87.
Funeral services were held at Calvary Baptist Church in Bayou Chicot on Friday, March 14, at 1 p.m. with Pastor Wade Lambright officiating the services.
Ray was laid to rest in Vandenburg Cemetery.
Ray was born on Thursday, Feb. 24, 1938, and grew to be a man that worked hard to provide for his family even when he had to hitchhike to Baton Rouge from Bayou Chicot because that’s where the work was.
Raised during the Depression, Ray worked the fields, growing food and picking cotton. He worked many years in the newspaper industry at the Beaumont Enterprise, the Alexandria Daily Town Talk, the Eunice News and the Ville Platte Gazette.
Even after retirement, he couldn’t help but work. He owned and operated his own print shop and was a bailiff and transport driver for the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Ray once told his granddaughter, “Baby, when I stop working I’ll die.” He stressed to his family the life lesson about the importance of hard work.
Ray believed in giving back to his community. He served on the Solid Waste Commission, and Vandenburg Cemetery Board and was one of the original board members of the Boggy Bayou Festival.
Ray was a big supporter of the sports programs at his alma mater, Bayou Chicot; he enjoyed traveling with the basketball and baseball teams to cheer them on. Ray had a strong faith and through his working as a Deacon in the church, he helped others come to believe that all things are possible with God.
Even when not working or serving his community, Ray was busy with his hobbies of hunting, fishing and wood working. He even decided, at the age of 87, to pick up a new hobby of making his own sausage. Although his sausage-making days weren’t many, it served as a testament to his family to live life to its fullest and make every day count.
Ray loved life almost as much as he loved his family and friends. He loved hosting family reunions and their family fun day. He took pride in his family, especially his three children, who he spoke fondly of with a light in his eyes.
Ray will live forever in the hearts of those he loved including, his son, Garland Ray Forman Jr. and wife Debbie, of Bayou Chicot; two daughters, Patricia Forman Bagwell and husband Lloyd, of Pineville and Rebecca Forman Sawyer and husband Tim, of Pearl River; and four step-daughters, Ramona Herman and husband Dan, of Vinton, Patty Minter and husband, Shaun, of Houma, Penny Landry of Houma, and Diana Guidroz and husband David, of Houma.
His legacy lives on through his 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Garland Lee and Zella Murray Forman; his first wife, Velma Keopp Forman; and his second wife, Carmen Forman.
A visitation to celebrate Ray’s life was held at Calvary Baptist Church in Bayou Chicot on Thursday, March 13, from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. and again on Friday, March 14, from 11 a.m. until time of service.
Although his passing will leave a great void in his family’s lives, they are comforted by the thought of Ray walking into Heaven with the same ease he would walk into his earthly home, and entering his eternal home.
Pallbearers for the service were Patrick and James Forman, Jonathan and Tony Warren, Shaun Joseph, Rios Montalvo, Lloyd Bagwell and Shaun Joseph Jr.
Honorary pallbearer was Jason Forman.
Ardoin’s Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements and invites family and friends to leave condolences and fond memories of Ray at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Garland Ray Forman Sr., please visit the flower store.