Mary Katherine ‘Kaysie’ Koob Forbes of Evansville, Indiana, Dies April 20

Mary Katherine ‘Kaysie’ Koob Forbes of Evansville, Indiana, died on Easter Sunday morning, April 20, in her hometown.

Born Mary Katherine Koob on December 18, 1942, to Edward Jacob Koob and Mary Lillian Koob, she was commonly known as “Kaysie” Koob Forbes most of her life. She was born and raised in Evansville.

She was a graduate of what is known today as the University of Evansville. While at the University of Evansville, she became a Phi Mu sorority sister in 1963 and in 1967 was named one of the “Outstanding Young Women of the Year.” She was also nicknamed “Coach” because of her intense love for basketball and baseball. She was a devoted Indiana University fan, and followed them closely — especially during March Madness — always rooting for her beloved “IU.”

At Keller Crescent, the legendary advertising agency she admired and revered, she became an expert in advertising, public and private media communications, and had clients (who became dear friends) all over the country. She became the first woman vice president to be named by the firm. One of the greatest fortunes to come from Keller Crescent was the subsequent hiring of Ken Forbes as an account executive. They were married in Hawaii on April 8, 1978 — a place they enjoyed and visited many times.

The couple later created an executive search firm from Sanford Rose that she renamed “The Kenneth P. Forbes Agency,” and from which they both retired.

Like her expertise in communications, she was a wizard in the kitchen, often making Saturday night dinners for their friends, the “Chill Group.” She and her husband famously hosted an annual Christmas party for her friends and family where all her culinary talents were on full display.

She was proud of completing an intensive horticultural course and achieved the rank of “certified master gardener” and exhibited her talents most especially in her home gardens. She also loved creating elaborate miniatures displaying them in custom dollhouses throughout her home. They lived in Springfield, Missouri, Collierville, Tennessee, and Evansville, Indiana, and traveled extensively with a special affection for Sarasota and Key West, Florida, and Hawaii.

She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth P. Forbes Jr., a 1961 graduate of Westhampton Beach High School and Upsala College. In the 1950s, he was an altar server for Father Joe Slomski at the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church. She was also predeceased by her parents; older brother Edward; sister-in-law Flora Koob; son-in-law Paul Moring; and niece, Karin Koob-Potvin.

She is survived by her stepdaughters Kelly (Jim) Upson and Kristen Forbes-Moring; stepson Kevin Forbes; nieces Kim (Dan) Greer and Kris Baldwin; nephew Kyle Koob; brother-in-law, Deacon Michael P. (Barbara) Forbes; sister-in-law Jill (Doug) Stubbs; four grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Kaysie and Ken Forbes enjoyed feeding the ducks at Brook Road at the Aspetuck Crossing in Westhampton, and they will be buried together in Westhampton Cemetery with Ken Forbes’s mother, Jane Morrissey Forbes.

The family would appreciate donations be made to Indiana University School of Medicine to support disease research with memorial gifts payable to “IU Foundation” and mail to IU Foundation, P.O. Box 7072, Indianapolis, IN 46207-7072. Please indicate “in memory of Kay Koob Forbes” on the gift. In addition, donations can be made on behalf of Ken and Kay Forbes to the Warrick County Family Resources Division for the Christmas families, where they devoted much time and their resources. It is located 3355 Liberty Blvd Suite B, Boonville, IN 47601.