Forest William "Junior" Woolsey was born in Pittsburg, Kansas on June 11, 1929. He was one of four children of Forest W. and Philomena "Minnie" (Genise) Woolsey.
After living in Nebraska and Iowa, Junior moved to Missouri in 1951. He entered the United States Army in 1954. Upon discharge, he logged and operated a sawmill and worked as a commercial fisherman. He was a commercial master gardener, raising and selling thousands of watermelons. Junior was also known as a storyteller.
He married Margaret White. They later divorced. Margaret passed away in 2007.
Junior was preceded in death by a daughter, Dana Woolsey; two brothers, David and Benny; and an infant sister, Charmayne.
He is survived by his children, John “Bow” Steedley of Hamburg, Iowa, Robert (Shelley) Frakes of Big Lake, Missouri, Ed (Patsy) Woolsey of Forest City, Missouri, and Gina (Ron) Grimes of Oregon, Missouri; his significant other, Pauline Kurtz, of the home; 14 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Family visitation: Sunday, August 27, 2023, 5:00 to 7:00 pm, with services at 10:30 am on Monday, all at the Chamberlain Funeral Home, Oregon. Interment with military honors: Forest City Union Cemetery. Memorials: Forest City Union Cemetery.
