THOMAS, Forrest Esler

Mohave Valley Daily News, Bullhead City, Arizona Sunday, February 14, 2010 Bullhead City, Ariz. AZ United States Forrest Esler Thomas, age 82, passed away Friday, January 15, 2010, in Henderson, Nev. He was born on June 16, 1927 in Pampa, Texas, to James Leslie Thomas and Gladys Hope Esler Thomas. Forrest was one of 12 children - he had five brothers and six sisters - and grew up in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He served in the Army during the Korean War. While serving in Korea, he was wounded. Forrest returned to Arkansas where he met and married Anna Marie McGarrah on July 1, 1953. They moved to California where they raised four daughters: Sharron White, Brenda Ruegge, Leslye McCluney Hardy, and Lois Ochoa. Despite his disability, he worked his entire professional life as a machinist. While working for H.I. Thompson (HITCO), Inc. he made parts for the original space shuttle. In 1988, Forrest and Marie moved to Bullhead City where they spent retirement years. He was a life member of American Legion Gardena Post, the Disabled American Veterans, and VFW post 10005, where he and Marie had many great times. He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Marie, his parents, and eight siblings: Mary Lea, Joseph Edward, Ocell Mae, William Davis, Gloria Helen, Alvin Allen, James Aaron, and Freddie Newton. Forrest is survived by his four daughters and their families; three sisters, Dott Cotrill, Leota Bailey, and Betty Boyd; nine grandchildren, Kimberly Berry, Amanda Lochner, Brian Ruegge, Thomas McCluney, Christy McCluney, Lisa McCluney, Peter McCluney, Kyle Hendrix and Karee Hendrix; and eight great-grandchildren. We will miss you Daddy! Interment will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 16, 2010, at Desert Lawn Funeral Home in Mohave Valley, Ariz.