Forrest Sapp
Forrest Sapp, 95, of Cameron, died Sunday, June 26, 2022, at his home.
Services will be held on Wednesday, June 29, at the First United Methodist Church in Cameron with burial to follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery. Family visitation will be Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home.
Mr. Sapp was born in Wills Point on Aug. 31, 1926. He and his family lived in the country around Wills Point and were sharecroppers. He and his four brothers and one sister all worked hard with their parents to make ends meet during those tough “Great Depression” years. Forrest could remember picking cotton when he was 4 or 5 years old along with his other siblings. They didn’t have much money but the love and dedication to the family was enough to get them through.
Forrest graduated from Wills Point in 1945 and immediately went into the army. His brother Chubb had died in combat just a few months earlier. Thank goodness the war ended while he was in basic training.
Mr. Sapp met the love of his life, Lois Knapp, on Aug. 8, 1953, while he was a surveyor in Wyoming. They were married two months later on Oct. 8, 1953. He then applied for coaching jobs in Texas and was hired over the phone by Cameron ISD. He taught history, math and biology and coached football, basketball and track for one year. He felt that there was no way he could make it on a salary of $2,708 a year so he entered the insurance business. He then started Forrest Sapp Insurance Agency where he worked until his death. He definitely didn’t believe in ‘early retirement!’
Forrest was very active in Cameron. He headed up the Salvation Army and helped start the Quarterback Club which is now the Yoemen Booster Club. He was a member of the Lions Club for many years and served on the Cameron School Board for 15 years. He was a loyal member of the First United Methodist Church where he served on many boards. He sang in the choir for 30 years. His wife, Lois, sang in the choir for 50 years until her death in 2005. Forrest coached his three sons in summer league baseball for a total of 15 years. His last year to coach, coaching his youngest son Allan, culminated in a state championship for the Pony League Cameron Bluejays. That was the first team state championship for Cameron in any sport.
Forrest and his wife Lois loved to spend time with their family. Lois was always planning a family get-together or vacation. They enjoyed going to all sporting events, especially when their children or grand-children were involved.
Forrest is preceded in death by his wife, Lois; parentsm Tom and Fern Sapp; four brothers, Joseph, Harold, Jack and Porter; and his sister, Thelma.
He is survived by: sons, Ricky and wife Connie of Cameron, Randy and wife Cathy of Cameron, and Allan and wife Virginia of Cameron; and daughter, Debbie Gommert and husband Harvey of Cameron.
Twelve grandchildren, Brett Sapp, Rene Miller, Amanda Vansa, Jason Young, Ryan Sapp, Stetson Gommert, Erin Anderson, Colton Gommert, Jeremy Sapp, Justin Sapp, Jenna Sapp, and Tyler Sapp; and 20 great-grandchildren with one on the way also survive.