A Memorial Dinner & Celebration of Life for Staley Ray “Guitar-Picker” Forsythe will take place Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Cumberland Furnace Community Center. Staley Ray Forsythe, age 65 of Cumberland Furnace, TN passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at his home after a long and brave battle with cancer.A Valentine’s baby, he was born on February 14, 1956 on the family farm in Neptune, TN to the late Marvin and Lillie Mai Forsythe. He was a lifelong roadwarrior, working as a truck driver for 25 years for numerous companies including Intermodal Cartage Company, Inc. of Memphis, TN. Staley Ray was an avid bass fisherman and a talented multi-instrumentalist who in his free time entertained audiences with his guitar-picking and unmistakable country music and blues-influenced style. He will be remembered by friends and neighbors for his renditions of hits from Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Chet Atkins, and the Highwaymen. A lifelong member of the Cumberland furnace community, he served as the pyrotechnics specialist for the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration at the community center for 18 years. A charismatic family man with an infectious laugh, he brought joy and happiness to his friends and family and was always ready with a witty joke, kind advice, and a helping hand.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years: Connie Forsythe of Cumberland furnace; his son: Staley John Forsythe of Lyles; and his stepdaughter: Summer Schmidt of Clawhammer. A devoted grandfather, he leaves behind his dear grandchildren: Dixie, Nathan, Destiny, Chance, and Jackson Forsythe and Angel and Thunder Vance. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter: Candi Vance; and his devoted sister: Nancy Camden.