Forrest Patrick Fuller

"Forrest was such a great guy, a class act", and "so entertaining"; he could sell ice to an Eskimo, and often did. This was the unanimous opinion of everyone who loved him, knew him, and worked with him. He always had a "can do" attitude and was there with a listening ear and a helpful solution to your problem. In sales that meant, "You really need this item"; "Will a dozen be enough?", and, "You can't sell it if you don't have it" (or if you keep it behind the counter where folks can't see it).

Forrest was born at Portland Sanitarium Hospital in SE Portland, and spent his whole life in East Multnomah County. He began his sales career riding with his dad on long trips across the state, especially Eastern Oregon, selling Knapp's Shoes. Forrest began as a delivery boy for the Oregonian newspaper and by the age of 14 was a Branch Manager for the Oregonian's East County branch. His family had moved to Southeast 124th and Division, which was still fairly rural at the time. Forrest loved birds, and built a pigeon house which contained homing pigeons. Forrest lost his dad, Carl, when he was 14 years old.

After meeting and subsequently marrying Carole Rush just shy of his 18th birthday in February 1955, he began working for Central Motor Parts in SE Portland, and at a gas station near their first home on SE 55th and Powell. Kevin was born there in 1957; daughter Kerry would be born three years late. In 1963, he designed and had built a home for his family next door to his mothers', near Damascus, Oregon. Forrest lost his mother the next year to cancer. He was only 26. The next year, son Sean was born, completing his family.

The 1960's saw Forrest busy in the auto parts industry, eventually having his own business dealing primarily in import auto parts, during which he met and made friends and did business with those from other parts of the globe. He had SO many interesting stories stemming from these encounters. This continued throughout the 1970's. Forrest gave his son Kevin his first job as a parts delivery driver, plus also employed other family and non-family members and helped them to achieve success.

In the mid 1990's he decided to primarily focus on selling hand tools and impulse items and began his own representative agency Fuller and Associates, focusing on an array of hardware and a variety of retail stores employing several sub-reps under him. At each of the stores, he was always a welcome sight, with his smile, his stories, and his uncanny way of knowing just what the store needed and how to sell to them. In 2008, he hired his daughter Kerry as a sub-rep during a difficult time in her life, and also supported her and her kids above and beyond anything any other parent or grandparent would have done.

Forrest suffered a severe loss when his dear wife Carole died in 2019. He carried on bravely, continuing with his business until he became severely ill with COVID in the winter of 2021. With the care of his

son Sean, he survived and returned to health. He was doing well until he came down with a bad cold and cough in late November of 2022. He had attacks of vertigo, resulting in a bad fall that hospitalized him in early December 2022. He rallied and came around for a bit, but died of cardiac arrest while in the hospital.

There will never again be anyone like him.

Forrest’s life will be celebrated at a memorial service on Saturday, February 11 at 1:00 pm at Calvary Lutheran Church, 8040 SE Woodstock in Portland. Following the service, all will be welcome to gather with the family for refreshments and fellowship in the church hall.