Forrest Payer

Forrest Leon Payer of Mabelvale, Arkansas, passed away June 5, 2021 at the age of 90.  Forrest was a Veteran, serving as a Marine Sergeant on the frontlines of the Korean War.  He grew up on a farm in Casscoe, Arkansas with two brothers and six sisters.  Forrest’s career with Schindler Elevator Co. (formerly Westinghouse Elevators) spanned over 40 years as an Elevator Foreman, also serving as the Business Agent for the National Elevator Industry Union.  In his active years, Forrest was often off to the woods hunting with his pack of coonhounds.  In addition to breeding coonhounds, he also loved raising cattle, having a herd up to 120 head.  If he wasn’t hunting, he was busy in his yard and bountiful garden.  He was well known for his best tasting tomatoes, among other tasty vegetables.  In his later years, Forrest loved nothing more than sitting on his back patio with his family, watching the great grand kids play and the dozens of hummingbirds flocking to his many feeders.

Forrest is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Joann C. Cole and his beloved son, Steve Payer. He is survived by his daughters Sherry and husband, Ross Mesquita; Katy and husband Dennis Tinkle; Melissa and husband Ron Villareal; Mary and husband Mike Crawford.  Grandchildren are Robin Carlino, Samantha Ford, Matthew Cook, Gunnar Ebeling and Maxwell Ebeling; as well as six great grandchildren.  He was a strong, loving force in our lives and will be missed but never forgotten.