Gilbert "Jake" Forbis

“Jake” Gilbert Gene Forbis was born August 28, 1957 to Maureen Hansen Forbis in Provo, Utah as the youngest of four boys. Jake grew up in Orem, where he started working quite young, picking fruit in the orchards and other jobs for local farmers and such as Orem was filled with orchards and farms.

On November 8, 1974 Jake married his sweetheart, Connie Howarth and over the next couple years they grew their family with the birth of son, Justin Koy in 1975 and daughter Jessica Tennille in 1976. While the kids were younger the family ventured to California a couple times, northern and southern, before returning to Utah and eventually settling in Vernal, Utah in 1987 where Jake worked for Smith’s as a baker. He ultimately was put in a managerial position, which took he and Connie to Riverton, Wyoming and then to Heber. Around this time Jake switched careers and started truck driving in different settings such as the oilfield and construction type trucking, he did what was needed. 

Jake was an avid outdoorsman, he loved so many different aspects from camping, hunting, and fishing, to just simply driving around looking at nature or checking out a new town, especially with his loved ones, he and Connie went on many a drive just for fun. Jake was a wonderful cook, an amazing baker, really just about anything in the kitchen, a killer fisherman, he was just so talented! He had such a sense of humor! He loved giving his loved ones a hard time, done with love of course, and simply spending time with his loved ones, especially his sweetheart Connie. 

Jake suffered a severe stroke on August 19, 2023 and fought valiantly, with his special brand of sass, through the end of the year. He was able to be home for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, surrounded by family, and New Year’s morning, with Connie always by his side, Jake went home to join his mother, Maureen Hansen Forbis, brother, Shirley Rex Hunter, and grandson Jayce Connor Melton. 

Jake is survived by his ever-loving wife, Connie H. Forbis of Vernal, son Justin (Jenny) Forbis, Vernal, daughter Jessica (CJ) Rasmussen, Layton, brothers; Jeff (Elaine) Hunter, California, George (Jan) Forbis, Provo, Grandchildren; Jake (Carissa) Forbis, Saratoga Springs, Theron (Kimber) Melton, Ogden, Ici Forbis, Vernal, Kiera Dykens, Green River, Natas Forbis, Vernal, Aspen Dykens, Layton, and Brooklyn & DeLeon Rasmussen, Layton. Great-grandchildren Wynter Jayce, Grayum Abram, Aaron Ezra, Azrael Iroh Melton, Layton, Saylor Ruth & Hudson Thomas Forbis, Saratoga Springs, and Liliana Daisy Dykens, Layton. Losing Jake has left the biggest hole in our lives and until we see him again, he will remain in our hearts. 

A celebration of life will be held in either late spring or early summer, weather permitting.