Leon Forrester

Leon L. Forrester, 89, of Martin died Aug. 18, 2015, at Van Ayer Nursing and Rehab Center in Martin.
Services were scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Gardner Church of Christ, with Bros. Michael Gilbert and Larry Powers officiating. Burial will follow in Obion County Memorial Gardens. Murphy Funeral Home in Martin is in charge of arrangements.
His grandsons were to serve as pallbearers and his granddaughters were honorary pallbearers.
He was born Oct. 17, 1925, in Obion County, son of the late Walter J. and Elizabeth (McConnell) Forrester. He was World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Marines. He was a retired foreman for the former Brown Shoe Company in Union City and retired as assistant ag pavilion director at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He was a farrier, a shoer of horses and an avid lover of Tennessee Walking horses. He was a member of Gardner Church of Christ.
He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Danny and Beth Forrester of Dresden and Nicky and Elaine Forrester of Fulton; his daughter and son-in-law, Clara and David Hays of Martin; two sisters, Betty Stogsdill and Dorris Forrester, both of Union City; eight grandchildren and the spouses of six, David and Andrea Forrester, Ann Forrester, Bucky and Allison Forrester, Chad and Lori Forrester, Kent and Brittany Forrester, Keith and Ginger Forrester, Bryan and Jennifer Hays and Elise Hays; and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his wife, Clara Jean Hogan Forrester.
Published in The Messenger 8.20.15