This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: DeForest Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/4612/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Steven Philip DeForest born November 18, 1943 in Salinas California passed August 04, 2010 in Brawley California. Steve put family first and believed in order to take care of family a hard days work was the key. While in Jr. High Steve would sneak off and work in produce, this continued until his junior year in high school when he joined the "fruit tramp family" full time. It was produce that brought Steve to Brawley where he settled with his family in the early 1970s. Steve took pride in continuing the family business founded by his father John Milton DeForest who passed in 1986. JM DeForest became Steve's passion, working from sun-up to way past sun-down and always saying, "There's just not enough time in the day!" Of course Steve was never too busy for conversation. After the loss of his mother, Mary Henrietta DeForest, Steve took care of his grandparents who lived on their ranch Angel Mountain in Mesa Grande, California. It became a tradition for Steve to celebrate special occasions and holidays with his family on the ranch. Sharing his love of the ranch with friends gave him a sense of fulfillment. Generous almost to a fault, Steve was willing to do anything for anyone. True to the saying, Steve would give the shirt off his back. How lucky we all were to have Steve in our life, the smiles we saw, the kindness he gave and the love we will always hold in our heart! He will never be forgotten! Steve is survived by his wife Marilyn of forty-one years; six children, Lori DeForest of Florida, Mandi Honeysuckle of Prescott, Nikki Robinson ( Robbie) of El Centro, Steven DeForest (Mary) of Yuma, John DeForest (Gina) of Brawley and Stephanie DeForest of Imperial; brother, Lynwood DeForest of Brawley; nine grandchildren, Tamra Dorsey, Krystal Spohn, Bradley DeForest, Donny DeForest, Ty Robinson, Cheyenne Robinson, Emily DeForest, Karley DeForest, John DeForest; and seven great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews as well as a large extended family of close friends. Funeral service will commence at Faith Assembly in Imperial at 10 a.m. on Thursday the August 12, 2010. Viewing will be held at Frye Chapel in Brawley from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday August 11, 2010. Burial will be on Friday August 13, 2010 at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido at 11 a.m. Arrangements made by Frye Chapel and Mortuary, fryechapel@sbcglobal.net, 760-344-1414. Published in Las Cruces Sun-News from August 8 to August 9, 2010 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.