Alister Elder Forsythe
October 28, 1924 - May 16, 2013
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Alister Elder Forsythe
October 28, 1924 - May 16, 2013
Obituary
Alister E. (Choke) Forsythe passed away May 16, 2013 at Bellingham Health Care in Bellingham, WA. He was born October 28, 1924 in Giscome B.C., Canada. He is survived by two of his four siblings; James (Edna) Forsythe and Shirley McGarrigle, two children; Sheila (Gary) Nawman and Dean (Mikeal) Forsythe, two grandchildren; Jesse (Kim) Forsythe and Melissa Forsythe, great-grandson, Dylan Forsythe, and numerous nieces and nephews. Al was preceded in death by his wife Lila in 2011.
Al joined the Navy with many of his neighborhood friends and his brother Jim in the fall of 1942. After the navy, he and Lila married and had 64 wonderful years together.
He worked in the Bellingham coal mine for a couple of years, surviving a cave-in by diving into a hole. His leg was broken in two places, and he spent many months recuperating in St. Lukes Hospital. Always open for something different occupationally, he moved his family to Lacomb, Oregon in 1952 where he joined other family members working at a shingle mill. He always said that those few years he lived and worked in Oregon were some of the best years of his life.
A nephew recently remarked, Uncle Choke never met a stranger. That gift of gab led him to embark on an insurance career in 1956. After some schooling, Al moved the family back to Custer, WA and started working for Allstate Insurance. Eventually, he and Lila bought Blaine Insurance, where he worked until he retired.
Passionate about golf, he and Lila were members of the Bellingham Country Club, making many new life-long friends and several holes-in-one (although, much to his dismay, Lila got the first one).
Als ashes will be buried along with Lilas at the Haynie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Haynie Cemetery, C/O Connie Boice, 3333 McGee Road, Custer, WA 98240. This little cemetery does not get any funds from the county, so all donations are greatly appreciated.
Als family would like to thank the staff of Bellingham Health Care for their loving kindness during Als stay, and especially during his final days.
He will be missed by all who knew him. A memorial service may be announced at a later date. Moles Farewell Tributes-Greenacres
Farewell Tribute Information
A memorial service may be announced at a later date. Donations Information
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Haynie Cemetery, C/O Connie Boice, 3333 McGee Road, Custer, WA 98240. This little cemetery does not get any funds from the county, so all donations are greatly appreciated.
8 responses to Alister Elder Forsythe
Barry Wiens says:
May 16, 2013
Sorry to hear about Al’s passing. He was a good friend to my dad and our family for many years.
Nan Piovesan says:
May 16, 2013
Fond memories of Lila and Choke on and off the golf course. My thoughts are with you all.
Marty Nichols says:
May 16, 2013
Dean, Mikael &family. I’m sorry to hear of your dads passing. As you move forward, I hope your memories and stories of his life will give you comfort. Thinking of you. Marty
Babe quintrall says:
May 16, 2013
I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to Al’s family and friends. I hope that you can draw some comfort and hope from the many promises in the Bible. Revelation 21:4 says “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away”. These promises that we read about in the Bible, unlike the promises of men are reliable and sure. I am truly sorry for your loss.
Peggy J Hinton says:
May 16, 2013
Hello To All of Al’s Family: I was so sorry to read of Al’s passing and wish I had known he was ill. I have been visiting a relative in the Bellingham Health Care facility and would have stopped by to say hello. I’m sending my sincere sympathy to each of you for the loss of one so fine. Peggy Hinton