Lamar Reed Forbes

Lamar Reed Forbes, 76, of Sebring, passed away on July 31, 2023. He was born July 27, 1947, in
Naples, Florida to Marie Viola Keene and Claude Reece Forbes Jr.

Lamar’s childhood was spent in Naples and Pine Island in Lee County. He graduated from North Fort
Myers High School in 1965, where he played football, making an All-State team and attaining local
notoriety as the so-called “Lee County Monster” due to the combination of his large stature and speed.
Lamar attended Florida Bible College in Miami and worked in the ministry at Grace Bible Church in
Naples in the late 1960s.

He joined the Collier County Sheriff's Office in 1971, where he was affectionately known as both
“Biggun” and “Tiny.” He stated later in life that a desire to help people is what led him to join law
enforcement. After moving to Sebring in 1993, Lamar served with the Sebring Police Department until
his retirement in 2007. In his role with SPD, he was well-known in the local community as a liaison
with downtown merchants and for managing the school crossing guard program, often filling in
himself.

In addition to regularly watching every kind of football that was broadcast–his favorite team being the
University of Florida– Lamar enjoyed a variety of hobbies throughout his life including fishing, organic
gardening, mead making, metal detecting and wood turning. He was a genealogy enthusiast, and his
research led to his attainment of the Florida State Genealogical Society’s Florida Pioneer Descendent
Certification in 2002. He was a past member of the Masonic Cypress Lodge No. 295 in Naples.

Lamar was preceded in death by his parents; older brother, Gordon “Sparky” Forbes; sister-in-law,
Anita Forbes; and brothers-in-law, Robert L. Johnson Jr. and Joseph Johnson. He is survived by his
wife of 54 years, Maggie Johnson Forbes of Sebring; his daughter, Jessica Forbes of Pensacola; and
numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and one great-great nephew.
He was a dedicated husband and father (to both his daughter and several beloved dogs), and a faithful
friend. He and his big smile will be dearly missed.

Services will be held at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.
Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. with burial to follow. In lieu of
flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Good Shepherd Hospice, 110 Hammock Road,
Sebring, Florida 33870. chaptershealth.org.

Arrangements handled by Morris Funeral Chapel, Sebring. morrisfuneralchapel.com