Forrest Damiean Flournoy

Forrest had a way of making life feel a little warmer—and a lot more fun. With his genuine smile, kind heart, quick laugh, and ability to make almost anyone feel like an old friend, he brought an unmistakable light into the lives of the people who knew and loved him.

Born June 23, 1990, Forrest was a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend. His unexpected passing on September 17, 2026, at just 36 years old, leaves an absence that is difficult to put into words. His life was far too short, but it was filled with people who loved him deeply and memories that will continue to be told, laughed about, and treasured for years to come.

Forrest genuinely loved experiencing life. He was happiest outdoors—hiking or biking, at the beach or in the desert, traveling somewhere new, taking a road trip, or simply spending a warm day lounging by the pool. He appreciated adventure, but he also knew how to enjoy the simplest moments.

And wherever Forrest went, he brought joy with him.

He was silly, playful, and very rarely too shy to do something if he thought it might make someone happy. Forrest would dance just to make someone smile. He was the person you wanted at the birthday, the wedding, the cookout, the holiday, or the family gathering because somehow, when Forrest was there, it was just better. He was often the life of the party without ever needing the party to be about him.

There was a joy in Forrest that seemed to survive even the seasons when life wasn’t going perfectly. He had an extraordinary ability to remain positive, to find something to smile about, and to keep moving forward. That happiness wasn’t because his life was always easy. It was simply part of who Forrest was.

But perhaps one of his greatest gifts was the way he made people feel.

Forrest remembered things about people. He remembered the details of their lives, asked about the things that mattered to them, and had a way of letting people know that he was paying attention—that they mattered and that they were seen.

Maybe that is why so many people felt they had a special relationship with Forrest.

They did.

His capacity to love and care for people was immense. There was room in Forrest’s heart for so many people, and he had a remarkable ability to make each of them feel important. He could meet someone for the first time and speak to them as though they had known each other for years. There were no complicated requirements for belonging in Forrest’s world. He welcomed people in.

More than anything, though, Forrest loved his family.

Family was home to him. He loved bringing everyone together and was often the one encouraging people to gather, spend time together, or make another memory. If someone needed help, Forrest wanted to be there. He cared deeply about the people in his life, and they knew it not simply because he said it, but because of the way he showed up.

Forrest was the kind of person you could count on.

In fact, he was such a constant that it was easy to take for granted that he would simply always be there. He was a low-maintenance friend, a dependable family member, and a familiar presence who didn’t require much in return. Forrest was a sure thing. You assumed there would be another birthday, another holiday, another road trip, another ridiculous dance, another phone call, another story, another chance to see that smile.

That may be one of the hardest parts of losing him: realizing how extraordinary it was to have someone who felt so permanent.

And then there was his smile.

Forrest’s smile was unmistakably his—big, genuine, and full of warmth. When he smiled, you felt it. It reached his whole face and reflected so much of the person behind it. There was something wonderfully sincere about Forrest, and his smile seemed to carry all of it.

Even animals seemed to recognize that gentleness in him. They were naturally drawn to Forrest and often trusted him almost immediately. There was something especially sweet about watching animals find their way to him, as if they somehow knew what the people who loved Forrest already knew: he was gentle, kind, and safe.

Forrest wasn’t perfect. None of us are. But he loved people extraordinarily well. He showed up. He made people smile. He remembered. He included. He helped. He danced. He made ordinary gatherings more fun simply by walking through the door.

Forrest leaves behind his mother; his brother, Kaleb Jerome Murray; his father, grandparents; aunts; cousins; and an even larger circle of family and friends whose lives are forever changed because he was part of them.

There are some people whose absence changes the shape of a family, and Forrest is one of them. There will forever be a place where he should be—a face missing from the photographs, a voice missing from the conversation, a person missing from the celebration, and a smile everyone wishes they could see one more time.

But Forrest also leaves behind so much of himself.

He is in the stories that will be told again and again. He is in the laughter when someone remembers something funny he did. He is in the places his family will visit and remember being there with him. He is in every person who remembers how Forrest made them feel important, included, and loved.

And perhaps that is one of the greatest things a person can leave behind: the certainty that while they were here, people knew they mattered.

Forrest gave that gift freely.

His life was far too short, but the love he gave during it was not. And for everyone fortunate enough to have known him, life was simply better because Forrest was in it.

Forever our son. Forever our family. Forever loved. Forever missed.

Family will welcome friends and loved ones on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at Newcomer Funeral Home, SW Chapel, 3393 Broadway, Grove City, Ohio 43123. (614-539-6166).

To leave a message of condolence for the Flournoy family, please sign the guestbook below.