Garrett Forshee

GRUBVILLE, Mo. -- On Monday, July 25, 2022, Garrett Keith Forshee of Grubville passed away unexpectedly at the age of 32.

Garrett was born to Gary L. and Kathy Jane Hahn Forshee April 11, 1990, in St. Louis and was baptized at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel in Arnold, Missouri, on Father's Day in 1990. At 13, Garrett accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized into membership at Windsor Baptist Church in Imperial, Missouri, where he was active in vacation Bible school, youth group, mission ministries and church volunteer work for 20 years.

Garrett was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy-left hemipegia at 18 months of age, but to him and his parents this was just a label on a piece of paper. Nothing stopped him from laughing, playing, practical joking, playing hard, meeting people, learning new skills or working. He started his own lawn mowing business at age 11 and was working three part-time jobs at 17 years old. At the time of his death, he was employed as a line haul driver for Estes Express Lines.

Garrett graduated from Windsor High School, class of 2008, and studied briefly at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri.

Garrett was an avid cyclist from age 13, riding many miles, including century rides, with the Jeffco Flying Cows Bicycle Club. That all changed at 18 when he bought his first motorcycle. Then there were miles and miles of adventures with family and friends and even bigger stories for him to tell. His knowledge of John Deere tractors was legendary, and he was a proud member of the Gateway 2-Cylinder Antique Tractor Club. Garrett loved music and had an amazing voice. Those who were lucky enough to hear him sing gospel and vintage country songs were very happy indeed.

Of all the family, friends, interests, collections, hobbies and work that Garrett threw himself into passionately, none surpassed his devotion to his son, Rhett Waylon Forshee. Garrett was a loving, protective, caring father, and those two were inseparable. He also enjoyed a close and loving relationship with his stepson, Austin Nesser, who he loved as his own. Camping trips, fishing, auctions, yard sales, way too much junk food, movie nights, tractor shows and a snow mobile and go-cart that probably went too fast were all part of the fun. But there was discipline, too, and what part of "does this room look clean to you" sounds familiar?

Garrett never met a stranger, never forgot a name and always had time to help a friend.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gary L. Forshee, and his maternal grandfather, Bobbie Joe Hahn.

Surviving is his wife, Karen League Nesser Forshee. Left to cherish his precious memory are his beloved son, Rhett Waylon Forshee; bonus son, Austin Nesser; devoted mother and stepfather, Kathy and Jim Yount of Cape Girardeau; sister and first best friend, Kate (Andrew Morton) Forshee of Jackson; stepsister, Tammy (Ron) Gilmore of Pevely, Missouri; special uncle and aunt, Kyle and Ann Hahn of Ocala, Florida; maternal grandmother, Mary I. Hahn of Sedgewickville, Missouri; uncle, Keith (Tammy) Hahn of Sedgewickville; many loving cousins; and a host of caring friends everywhere.

Funeral arrangements for Garrett Keith Forshee are today at Kutis Funeral Home, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road in St. Louis. Visitation is from 11 a.m. until time of service at noon. Interment will follow the ceremony at Shepherd Hills Cemetery, 1925 Old State Road M in Barnhart, Missouri.

The family knows that many will be unable to attend the visitation and funeral service for Garrett because of the scheduling. Please honor his life well lived, support each other in the sorrow of mutual loss and celebrate the vibrancy and joy Garrett gave to all, all while praying for guidance in this time of mourning.

To have time for that, the family will have a memorial service at a later date.