Obituary - Faye Nell Forrest

Sunday, March 04, 2007
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Faye Nell P. Forrest died Feb. 17, 2007, at the Cordova Community Medical Center in Cordova. She was 80.

She was born Sept. 8, 1926, in Carthage, Mo., to Jesse E. and Mary Hodge. She had 13 sisters and brothers. She was raised in Carthage and married Charles Gisel in 1944. The couple had three children: Sheryl, Charles A. Gisel Jr., and Robert Gisel. In 1959, they moved to Juneau, where Charles worked as a helicopter pilot.

In Juneau, she was a checker at Foodland and a school-bus driver. She was active in Eastern Star and PEO, a nonsorority, and was actively involved in Rainbow. Charles died while flying in 1967.

On Dec. 19, 1969, Faye Nell married Linn A. Forrest in Juneau. That marriage increased the family's size by seven more children. The couple continued to make Juneau their home until 1984, when they moved to Colt Island. They built their home on the island and hunted and fished in the area. Colt Island remained their home until her death.

"She was an avid gardener, was my hunting and fishing partner and my best friend," her husband said. "Together, we raised two of our great-granddaughters from infancy until school age and home-schooled one of our granddaughters on the island. She was known as a gracious hostess by friends, family members and strangers at our home on Colt Island."

She was preceded in death by Charles Gisel; her daughter, Sheryl; and Linn's daughter, Arleta.

She is survived by her husband, Linn Forrest, of Colt Island; children, Charles A. Gisel Jr. of Carthage; Robert Gisel of Los Angeles, Craig Forrest of Homer; Linn A. Forrest III and his wife, Sandy of Pensacola, Fla., Donald Forrest of Stuart, Fla., David Forrest of Juneau, Elaine Jordan of Wasilla, and Steven Forrest of Anchorage; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and sisters and brothers in Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.

A memorial service will be held by the Juneau chapter of the Eastern Star in early spring. Time and location to be announced.