George Forbes

George James ("Jim") Forbes passed away peacefully on May 31, 2016. Jim was born on November 15, 1926 to George and Marian Jefferies Forbes in Cheyenne, Wyoming. After siblings Janet and Maryanne were born, the family moved to Laramie where George Forbes co-founded and was later the CEO of the Bank of Laramie. After graduating from Laramie High School, Jim joined the Navy in September 1944 and served until the end of WWII. He came back to Laramie where he graduated from the University of Wyoming with honors in 1948. He was then accepted by Yale Law School. When he was reminded of this honor over the years, the characteristic humility that marked his life always made him say, "They needed to fill out their geographic diversity." He graduated from Yale in 1951. Jim began practicing law for Phillips Petroleum in Oklahoma, but he was unfilled with the work. He loved the outdoors. He disliked hours in offices in front of books. By that time, his father had pieced together several homesteads that became the Forbes Ranch, centered on the Wallis homestead on the Little Laramie River. Based on his experiences on his paternal relatives' ranches in Nebraska and the occasions he had worked on the Forbes Ranch, he decided to pursue a full time career there in 1952. Jim continued to practice law intermittently while a rancher. In one notable case, he assumed the criminal defense of an elderly widow who had been charged with water theft. His pro-bono defense proved successful. Jim married Letty Lang of Manhattan, New York in 1954. Together, they gave their children the best gift possible: a family life on a working ranch. Jim ran the Forbes Ranch for 30-years. He turned it into a highly successful operation. When he began his ranch career, weaning calf weights were in the 300 pound range and at the end of his career they were in the 800-900 pound range. The improvements he made to the land were significant and long-lasting. In 1980 he married Jane Reed of Cheyenne and the ensuing 31-years until her passing were the some of the most enjoyable years of his life. After retirement he traveled, took courses from the University of Wyoming in all fields of study, cycled, skied, volunteered in the community and spent time with his family. He was most happy doing outdoor activities, often in spite of brutal weather conditions he often endured. He loved birds. He also loved wildlife, except for beavers and porcupines, his sworn enemies. Jim strove to know as much as he could about as many fields as he could absorb. He knew classical literature, classical Greek, Latin, geology, history, math and economics. He could fix nearly anything. He was a superb writer. He is survived by his children, Jamie Lisa Forbes of Greensboro, N.C. and Mark Jonathan Forbes and Terri L. Forbes of Los Angeles, Ca., his grandchildren Justin M. Smith and Elizabeth A. Neugent-Smith, Lauren E. Smith-Sarraf and John Sarraf, Joseph D. Forbes and Thomas M. Forbes and great-grandchildren B. River Smith, Carter M. Smith, Dylan S. Sarraf, Brody J. Sarraf and Addison E. Sarraf. There will be no service as he did not wish one to be held. Condolences may be sent to the family to the attention of Jamie Forbes at 5193 Blakeshire Road, Greensboro, N.C. 27406. Donations in his honor may be made to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Davis Hospice Center, Meals on Wheels of Cheyenne, Cathedral Home for Children or any local charity of the donors' wish.