Jeffrey Stephen Forsse

Jeffrey Stephen Forsse, 37, of Crawford, Texas, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Saturday, February 24, 2024. He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Highland Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, with pastor John Durham officiating. The family will receive visitors from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 1, 2024, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.

Stephen, as he was called by his family, was born October 16, 1986, in Alexandria, Louisiana. He grew up there with his parents, Jeffrey and Yana, and 3 siblings, Jessica, Joseph, and Jodie. By the example of his parents and the presence of the Holy Spirit moving in his heart, when Stephen was 13, he realized that he needed to ask Jesus to forgive him of his sins and change his heart. He accepted Jesus' perfect sacrifice and rested in His salvation knowing that he would never walk alone.

He moved to Monroe, Louisiana in 2005 to attend ULM for his undergraduate and graduate degrees in kinesiology and exercise science. It was there in his 1st semester that he met his wife and best friend, Erin. They were perfect opposites and had the gift of being each other's first dates and first loves. They were married December 20, 2008. It was during grad school that he decided to be referred to as Jeff. After graduating from ULM, Jeff and Erin moved to Kansas City where Jeff started a pulmonary rehabilitation clinic at North Kansas City Hospital. It was while he was there that he decided he wanted to further his education at Baylor University. He attended Baylor from 2013 through 2017 and received his PhD in kinesiology and exercise science. His first job took him to Stephen F Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He and Erin refined their skills as house flippers with a home they purchased there. In 2019, God opened the door for Jeff to return to Baylor University. Being back in Waco with his community of friends at Baylor and Highland Baptist Church felt like coming home. Jeff and Erin flipped another house in neighboring Hewitt, Texas, bringing him one step closer to his dream of living in the country and starting a homestead. He was in the process of building his family a home in Crawford, Texas. He was very proud to be a Texan. When he wasn't busy at work or working on the house, he enjoyed taking the girls on four wheeler rides, taking care of his chickens, and watching beautiful sunsets.

God answered Jeff’s dream of becoming a father with Jenna, 6, and again with Lana, 1, who he affectionately called Alejandra. He loved Erin and the girls with all that he had. He thanked God for everything he had been given and never made any decision, big or small, without seeking God in prayer first.

Jeff loved working at Baylor and having the opportunity to help students excel academically but also care for them in whatever capacity he could. His office door was always open.

Jeff was never afraid of hard work. He always tried his best at whatever he was doing. He never said no to helping his students, colleagues, friends, family, or even strangers. He would drop everything he was doing to help someone else. He showed his love for God in how he treated everyone. He was burdened with a desire that everyone he could reach would come to realize their need for God to be their Savior. And now he is resting in the Father's arms, hearing "well done, my good and faithful one".

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Luis S. Trujillo and wife Dolores, and Gary A. Forsse.

In addition to his beloved wife and daughters, Jeff is also survived by his parents, Jeffrey and Leonor (Yana) Forsse; his siblings, Jessica Smith and husband Rodney and their children Cora, 9, Amelia, 7, and Sophia, 5; Joseph Forsse, and Jodie Crabtree and husband Jeff and their children Neil, 5, and Mila, 9 months; his grandmother, Joyce Peterson Forsse; and great-uncle, Thomas Rae Forsse. As well as Erin’s parents, Steve and Tania Allen; Erin's sister, Shelby Hebert and husband Tyler and their children Lucas, 8, Jonas, 6, and Juliet, 4.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Jeff can be made to Highland Baptist Church’s future generations campaign.

https://www.shelbygiving.com/app/giving/high3014237

We will forever love and remember you, Stephen. You meant so much to so many people. You will be dearly missed.