Statler Family Obituaries
DeLay, Forrest Donnell "Frosti"
Forrest Donnell Delay, 71 years of age, went to his final resting place with the Lord on June 11, 2012, after undergoing heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. Forrest, also known by many by the affectionate name of “Frosti,” was born July 19, 1941, to Alma Elizabeth and Andrew Jackson Delay in Bell City, Mo. He was the 13th of 15 children.
Forrest is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Carol Leilani Delay, from Chino Valley, Ariz.; a son, Christopher Andrew and his wife Kim of Bullhead City, Nev.; a daughter, Alma Elizabeth Dale, widowed when her husband Shawn Dale (USN) was lost at sea off the USS Naussu; she now calls Prescott Valley home. Carol’s younger sister Sara lives very near to Alma and they work nights at the same place.
He is also survived by his adopted daughter Jamie Audis, his adopted grandchild, Tasha Audis, and his loving and faithful companion, “Moxie,” a beautiful white poodle.
Family members remaining include three sisters, Recka Hall, Blanche Sowell, and Rosemary Whitner, and two brothers, Marshal Delay and Harold Delay. Of those five only Harold lives in Missouri, with the other four residing in Michigan
In 1958, Forrest joined the United States Marine Corps going to San Diego for boot camp. (Then informally known as the Hollywood Training Center) After six years he met and married Carol, also a Marine who would soon be able to obtain a release due to being pregnant. They were stationed at El Toro at the time. First child, Chris, was born soon after.
When Forrest came to Twentynine Palms he developed a great interest in the Masonic Lodge.
He initiated his study on Sept. 29 1980, passed the study on March 30, 1981, and was raised to Master Mason on May 26, 1981, and served as High Priest, in Royal Arch Masons.
Brother Forrest has served as Master of the Lodge, District Inspector, and won the Hiram Award. Forrest was a selfless member of Masonic Lodge, Oasis of Mara #735, always willing to train young students in their lessons, quizzing them, working at least as hard as the students did to master their work.
He would have them over to his house or meet them at the lodge, anywhere most for the candidate. He really worked intensively with his students to help them grow and learn about the masonic information.
After 20 years in the Marine Corps, Forrest retired with the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. After his retirement he opened “Frosti’s Garage” on Twentynine Palms Highway in Twentynine Palms. Later, after he leased out that business he was quickly hired by Liton Industries as a tech-rep at a far greater salary to continue to do what he had been doing for the Marine Corps. Frosti was a good auto mechanic, terrific cabinetmaker, and was fearless about taking on any DIY project for himself and others.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at the Oasis of Mara Masonic Lodge, 72495 Larrea Avenue.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 13400 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, Ariz., 85259 or the Oasis of Mara Masonic Lodge, 72495 Larrea Avenue, Twentynine Palms, Calif., 92277.
Printed in the Wednesday, June 20, 2012 edition of the Hi-Desert Star Newspaper.
©2013 by David Statler of StatlerWeb