The Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois

July 19, 1938 - Tuesday, pg 6 

FORREST  EARL  NEAR 

Forrest E. Near Buried Sunday - Former Schoolmates At Deer Grove Bear Casket 

Forrest Earl Near was laid to rest Sunday afternoon in the Tampico Memorial Cemetery, following funeral rites at 2 o'clock in the Woods Funeral Home.  The funeral message of comfort and hope to the sorrowing members of the family was brought by Rev. James R. Uhlinger, Rock Falls Methodist Church pastor. 

Former school friends of the deceased at Deer Grove acted as pallbearers. They were Glenn Bechdolt, Gordon O'Neil, Gerald Keefe, Leo McCormick, Lloyd  Dixon and Marvin Broers. 

Those from out-of-town attending the rites were Elwood Mason, David Mason, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Fisher and family, and Mr. and Mrs. James Baugh and daughter Patty, Spencer, Ind.;  Miss Jerry Kay, Freedom, Ind.;  Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Opal Hurt,  Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mason and family, Miss Mabel Mason,  Mrs. Clyde Basore and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Mason, Indianapolis, Ind.;  Mr. and Mrs. Ivory Waltz and family, Roachdale, Ind.;  Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Klagg, Mrs. Louisa Klagg and Mr.a nd Mrs. Chris Hoffman, Tonica, Ill., and Mr. and Mrs. Will Near and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Conabare, Lee Center. 

Sketch of Life

Forrest Earl Near was born July 23, 1911 at Deer Grove, Ill., and departed this life July 15, 1938, aged 26 years, 11 months and 22 days old.  He was the sixth child of Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Near.  He was married to Jeanette Smith of Rock Falls June 1, 1935, and to this union three children were born, Carolyn Joyce, Paul Leroy and Kay Frances.  Besides the widow and three children, Mr. Near is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Near, and four brothers and three sisters, George, Russell, Vernon and Harry Near, Mrs. Lawrence Renner, Mrs. Irvin Bond, and Mrs. Dale Exner, and a host of relatives and friends.