Forsythe, Jr., Donald J.
Simmental cattle. Most recently he had been raising thoroughbred race horses. He had attended the Seymour Methodist Church and the Fordland Methodist Church. Jessie enjoyed gardening and mowing the yard. He could be found many mornings, as his health permitted, waiting for the 5 a.m. McDonald’s coffee crowd. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting. Jessie was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Rose Mary Cooper who died in 1999, two sons Robbie Cooper and James Cooper and a step-daughter Peggy (Martin) Mack; 3 sisters Victoria Shields, Beatrice Schimming and Ocie Coffell and 2 brothers James Cooper and Leechester Cooper. Surviving Jessie is his wife Jeannette of the home; 2 sons, Mike Cooper and wife Gena of Seymour, MO and Gary Cooper of Peoria, AZ; a sister Wanda Ragsdell of Durango, CO; a daughter-inlaw Diane Cooper of Phoenix, AZ; a sister-in-law Elaine Cooper of Tucson, AZ; 3 step-children Donald Ray Martin and wife Marian of Conroe, TX, Diana (Martin) English and husband Michael of Spring, TX and Ronald David Martin and wife Kitty of Montgomery, TX and a step-son-in-law Cecil Mack of Montgomery, TX. Also surviving are 20 grandchildren: Brian Cooper, Brent Cooper, Kimberly Greathouse, Sean Cooper, Shandi Gregg, Jennifer Mulhern, Nicole Delere, Mike Cooper, Jr., Mark Cooper, Zachary Thomas, Whitney Thomas, John Munoz, Lee Mack, Tonya Rhoes, Heather Perez, Brittany English, Lindsey Witt, Collin English, Danielle Pryor and Darren Pryor, 38 great grandchildren as well as nieces, nephews and other family members. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 27, 2017 at Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary in Glendale, AZ with burial to follow in Rest Haven Park Cemetery, Glendale, AZ at 11 a.m.. Memorial contributions may be made to either the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. Donald J. Forsythe, Jr., 70, of Phoenix, went to be with the Lord on March 21, 2017. He was born September 17, 1946, in Douglas, Arizona to Donald J. Forsythe, Sr. and Florence Betty Billmayer. Upon graduation from West High School in Phoenix, Don entered Phoenix College where he met and eventually married his bride and love of his life, Mary Jane Dunworth on June 17, 1967. Don served in Arizona National Guard from 1969-1975. At the same time, he started a plumbing service with his father that turned into Don J. Forsythe Plumbing. The business has been in existence in Phoenix for over 50 years. He was active in leadership in Troop 721, Boy Scouts of America, serving with distinction as scoutmaster. He proudly watched both his sons earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Don came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in 1983, and he sought to live out his faith in his family, through his business, and in active membership at North Phoenix Baptist Church, Hillside Southern Baptist Church and most recently at Palmcroft Church. He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Mary Jane, his sons and their wives, John and Annette Forsythe of Jefferson City, Missouri and Kevin and Kristin Forsythe of Glendale, three granddaughters, Abigail, Molly and Hannah, one grandson, Benjamin, and his mother-in-love, Bea Dunworth. He was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law, Edward Dunworth and grandson, Sean Forsythe. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 2:00 pm at Palmcroft Church, 15825 N. 35th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Crisis Pregnancy Centers of Greater Phoenix, 10555 N 58th Drive, Glendale, AZ 85302. Menke Funeral Home is handling arrangements and burial will be private. Condolences may be left at menkefuneralhome.com.