Edward James Forney age 79, a native of Montgomery, Alabama and a fifty-two-year resident of Lakewood, California entered eternal rest on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. As the child of military parents, Edward travelled the world with his formal education beginning in Rhein Main, Germany. He continued his elementary education in Geneva, New York and completed Junior High School in San Antonio, Texas. He began High School in Tachikawa, Japan at Yamato High School. His love of sports required that he take school more seriously because grades were a passport to sport. At Yamato, he played basketball and football and lettered in both sports. While still in high school, his father received transfer orders and fortunately they got to stay in Japan, but Ed had to transfer schools. He transferred mid-year to Chofu High School and was fortunate enough to make the basketball and football team as well as Track and Field team. He also lettered in all three sports at Chofu high. Mid-way his senior year in high school, Ed's father received transfer orders back to the United States and he completed high school in San Bernardino, California. Of all their travels, Ed loved living in Japan and often talked about going back to visit. After high school graduation, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During his service, he was stationed on the USS Aludra, USS. Princeton, and the USS Tripoli. While stationed on the USS Princeton, he did a tour in the Viet Nam and after returning to Long Beach he received new orders that stationed him at the U.S. Naval Base for a year in Da Nang, Viet Nam. After leaving the Navy, Ed worked as carpenter out of the Union Local 71. He later went to work for the Department of the Navy as a Contract Surveillance Representative and retired when the Long Beach Naval Shipyard closed in 1997. After retirement he worked a variety of jobs from driving instructor to life coach for the developmentally disabled.

Ed's parents were people of faith, and he would some time talk about attending church services in tents on the outskirts of the cities where they lived. He established a personal relationship with Christ at an early age.

It was during his time in the Navy that Ed met his wife, Maggie. A brush-off at their first meeting eventually led to 54 years,8 months and 22 days of marriage. Who says persistence doesn't pay off? Throughout these years they were blessed with 2 sons, 6 grandsons and 1 great-grandson. Ed enjoyed life, but that life began to slowly change with the onset of dementia, which was officially diagnosed in 2014. It was a constant battle for him and on May28, 2024, God said Enough and called him home.

Edward leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Maggie; 2 sons Michael Forney of Surprise, AZ and Jason (Christopher) Forney of Ontario, CA; 6 grandsons, Logan Forney, Kai Forney, and Kellan Forney of Surprise, AZ, Declend Hill, Devlin Hill, and Desmond Hill of Ontario, CA and 1 great-grandson, Mikah James Forney of Surprise, Az; 3 brothers in-law, Richard Miles of Bradenton, FL, Terrance Miles (Charlene) Lexington Park, MD, and David (Debra) Pettway of Selma, AL, 3 sisters in-law, Barbara Thomas, Minnie Smith, and Gloria (Monroe) McCree of Selma, Al, 2 Aunts; Carolena Forney of Cornelius, N.C., and Clara Lee of Long Beach, CA, 10 nephews; Christopher (Monet) Miles of Alpharetta, GA, Jerraun (Katrina) Miles of Bellflower, CA, Tony (Kim) Miles JR., of Port Hueneme, CA, Antonio Miles of St. Petersburg, FL, Darius Miles of Port Richey, FL, William Smith Jr., Monroe Mcree Jr., Javaris McCree, Dwayne Thomas and Lonnie Tomas of Selma, Al,

12 nieces; Bari Payne of Huntington Beach, CA, Shawnte Bush-Faniel of Mobile, AL, Teresa (Manuel) Romero of Baltimore, MD, Antoinette Miles of Washington, D.C., Cristy Miles of Murietta, GA, Jessica Baker of Detroit, MI, Tracy (Antwonne) Jefferson, Laquisha Thomas of Montgomery, AL, Dakita Thomas, LaKeshia Thomas, Melaka Pettway and Lakeisha Pettway of Selma, AL; 10 great nephews;
Kyle Payne, DeLon Miles, Terrell Miles, Alejandro Romero, Malakai Miles, Antonne lefferson Jr., Ayden Jefferson, Jacob Smith, Judah Smith and jonah Smith, 6 great-nieces; Nicholle Payne, Mikala Payne, Jazmyne Miles, Kaitlyn Miles, Olivia Baker and Piper Miles, 2 great great-nephews; асо LaStrape and Elijah Valencia and I great-great-niece; Kaylani LaStrape. His parents Wilson and Sadie Forney and brothers Charlie and
oge Witions preceded him in death. Ed will also be missed by a host of Cousins and their spouses and friends too numerous to mention.