Forrest Bradley Shoemaker, age 66, a Burlington resident, passed away July 28, 2019. He was born September 4, 1952 in Kansas.
Forrest was a very independent person who loved camping, hiking, mountain climbing, generally being outdoors. Therefore, he was blessed to work for the US Forest Service doing boundary surveys for about 40 years. He had an extensive book and movie collection, and enjoyed going to the gun range with his friends.
Forrest is survived by his sister, Shelley Starr, of Moneta, West Virginia; Uncle, Victor Shoemaker, of Willis, Kansas; cousins, J. Lamar Shoemaker, of Willis, Kansas and Christina K. Shoemaker, of Moundridge, Kansas, and Orca the cat.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00, Friday, August 2, 2019 at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley, with Pastor Jim Cannon presiding. His final resting place will be the Greenhills Cemetery, Burlington. A time of visitation will be available from 9:00 until the service at Lemley Chapel on Friday. Share your memories of Forrest and sign the online guest register.
I never got to meet Mr. Shoemaker in person. For a few years, he had been an extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and inspirational member on a hobby website of mine and he has made a formidable impression on me: one of patient intelligence, and keen wit. It may seem strange, but through his activity on the website, and our correspondence we became “pen-pal” equivalents on the internet. This gentleman will be missed, and I regret not having had an opportunity to meet him in person. My condolences to family and friends.
Rest in peace, Forrest.
I first met Forrest when I started working on the Darrington Ranger District in 2006. I soon discovered that Forrest was a wealth of knowledge, not only as it related to his “day job” as a land surveyor, but just a wealth of knowledge of the area and the people. I enjoyed our conversations and could always rely on Forrest to help me find answers to the challenges I faced as the District Ranger.
He was one of a kind and I am so sorry to hear that he has passed. I will remember him fondly.
My thoughts are with Forrest’s family & friends at this difficult time. Having worked with Forrest in the engineering group for over 25 of my 30 years on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, I had the great privilege of knowing him as a dedicated and responsible co-worker with a caring attitude. May he rest in peace.
Worked with Forrest for so many years. He was a joy to work with. May he Rest In Peace…
Forrest was a dear friend and colleague. I had the privilege over the last two decades to interact professional and personally with Forrest. Yes, he loved the outdoors and working for the Forest Service let him visit many special outdoor places in the Pacific Northwest. He was an avid reader, an outstanding Professional Land Surveyor and full of historical trivia. He was always willing to share his personal and corporate knowledge, all you had to do was ask. He had a fun sense of humor and always had a new word that he would use that made you scratch your head and have to go to the dictionary to look it up. Fun for all. Forrest I will surely miss you.
To Ron his friend, thanks for being there and taking care of his needs these last couple of years. You are the example of a Great Friend!
Forrest was our neighbor and friend for over 10 years. We purchased our homes within weeks of each other. Forrest was always a gentleman and scholar. For a good spell Forrest, my friend Bill and I met for breakfast regularly. Forest and Bill with decades in forestry here in the Pacific Northwest, shared many experiences, tales and memories. I being the one with only a passing experience mostly listened. We all three have climbed mountains, I still do. Now each time I reach a summit, I will take a moment to remember Forrest.
Forrest was my friend, a Co-worker and an Excellent Professional Land Surveyor.
He had an air of quiet competence and practiced our art with his own flair. I always admired his courage and his hard work. His efforts made a difference when we had a lot of folks in the woods following the footsteps of the original surveyors.
Psalm 16:5&6
LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.