John LeRoy Forest

John LeRoy Forest passed away peacefully on July 11, 2024 at his home, after a long struggle with
COPD. John was born in Twin Falls ID on November 29, 1946 to Stan and Doris Forest. He was joined
a couple of years later by his sister, Linda Lee Forest. His brother Rick, sister Marsha, brother Doug
and sister Cindy, followed.
John grew up in Buhl ID and Eltopia WA. His grandparents were a big part of his life in ID; as a
toddler and young boy, he helped them “farm”, watched baseball on TV and ate peach cobbler from
Grandma’s “magic pan”. As he got older, he spent time helping his father farm in Eltopia, and later in
Royal City. He graduated from Royal City High School in 1965 .
John pursued a career in law enforcement, employed by Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office for over 20
years, before returning to Royal City to join his father in the custom corn topping business. That was
an interesting, hectic and at times frustrating business. He made many good friends and got to know a
lot of the back roads and muddy fields of Grant County. John relaxed by going fishing at LaPush with
his family and friends, for years. That was always a great vacation, away from cell phones and
pressures of work. Only pressure there was to catch fish.
John married Luann Shoemaker in 1978 in Kittitas WA, and they welcomed three children: Zach in
1982, Rick in 1988 and Melissa in 1991. He was a good father and enjoyed teaching his children about
country life. Zach and Rick learned their way around the shop, tractors and corntoppers, and Melissa
kept him busy playing dolls with him, and painting his toenails.
John was active in the Moose Lodge in Royal City, and enjoyed sharing a drink and chatting with
friends, wherever he happened to be. His neighbors, the Abundiz Family meant everything to him:
errand-runners, housecleaners, delivery of good home-cooked meals, and above all, friendship. The
light of his life during his last years, was L’il Bit, his small but affectionate and opinionated poodle.
John was preceded in death by his grandparents, John & Laura Prilucik, Harold & Mae Forest; his
father Stan Forest and step-mother Gean, mother Doris Rowe and step-father Dave, as well as his
brother Rick Lancaster. He is survived by his siblings Linda Forest (Gary), Marsha Newton (Bob), Doug
Forest. Cindy Elder (Mark), Charlene Whitaker (Gary), Tiffany Lopez (Fresno) and Troy Watson, sons
Zach and Rick, daughter Melissa (Jake), and grandchildren Shaila and Layne, his former wife Luann
Zane and nieces and nephews Kristina Newton, Robert, Adam, Alicea, and Matthew Elder, and Tiffany
Burlingame, as well as other family members.
A memorial service will be held for John in September, details to be determined later.

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