Forrest Anthony Shaw

It is with great sorrow the family of Forrest Anthony Shaw, 71, of Magna, UT announce his passing on June 9th, 2024 after a long battle of illnesses. His wife, grandchildren and daughter, son and son-in-law by marriage surrounded him with love and affection during his last days.

His mother, Elaine Brown, gave birth to Forrest on August 22nd, 1952 in a hospital in Houston, Texas. She was told that Forrest would never walk. However, with the help of braces, special shoes and a determination, he learned to walk at age 5. His mother moved the family to Utah a few years after Forrest’s birth. There she met Forrest’s adoptive, but real father, Clarence Lynn Shaw, who legally adopted Forrest, his older sister, Scottine (Scotty) and brother Terrance (Terry). They also gave Forrest a younger sister he loved to tease, Kristine (Kris).

At age 18 he became deathly ill with Hepatitis C, and having a miraculous healing at night in the hospital bed, he became a born again believer and preached the Gospel everywhere he went. Then in 1992 he lost his eye sight in one eye and was eventually diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (Neuromyelitis Optica). He later lost most of the sight in both eyes. He dealt with pain on a regular basis and encountered many health obstacles, but he never lost his faith or belief in a God that was bigger and greater than anything that happened to him.

He married his high school sweetheart at a young age, Jeanine. They had two beautiful children, Forrest Lynn and Jessica (both of whom are deceased and missed dearly.) Jessica gave Forrest three beautiful and beloved grandchildren; Mackenzie Hughes, V (Alexa) Hughes and Eli Hughes. Forrest Lynn gave him two beloved grandchildren; Ariel and Carson. His grandchildren spent some of the most precious moments during the last days of Forrest’s life. They loved on him, sharing memories and making new ones. (You should ask them about the hamburgers, onion rings and root beer).

Forrest was a Commercial Painter by profession. However, Forrest loved music. He had the ability to hear the sounds of instruments and notes and the way they would come together to create the music he wrote. He loved playing the guitar, loved creating music, especially about his Lord, Jesus Christ. He became “A Fisher of Men” for Jesus, which was a work that was at the center of his heart. His preaching brought crowds of people to his home to hear about Jesus. He also loved to fish and loved to eat it! It didn’t matter if it was up in the mountains at a stream or on the ocean. He enjoyed being a fisherman. At one time he became a commercial (salmon) fisherman. His life was filled with faith promoting stories while at sea and on land. The Lord had an appointment for Forrest to meet a man called Jerry Mason and his son, Cephas. Those stories that many loved to hear are written in a book about Forrest called, “Surrounded by Fire”. There were other articles about the miracles and faith promoting experiences Forrest encountered and all were for the Glory of God to draw others to the God of the Bible. The center point of his life was Jesus. His faith was profound and has touched lives wherever he preached. A preacher/teacher at heart was his true profession.

He met his second wife, Marsha Lou (Moon) Shaw in 2015 and they married that same year. Their first meeting was at a fellowship in his backyard underneath the big tree. When he opened his mouth to speak about Jesus, she was taken and moved by what he said. Their first date was in the canyons on a picnic by a stream (of course) where they discovered they had both attended the same High School, but had never met. They went back to his home and pulled out the year book to discover the pictures of each other. It started a friendship that grew to a deep love. Their love grew over time with God at the helm that helped them through many tough times. Forrest loved to make Marsha laugh and he was full of stories and antics that would keep her laughing. Life was not perfect but they stuck through it and God blessed them.

He loved Marsha to read the Word of God most days and then they would listen to preachers and talk about the Lord. The last few years (especially the last year due to his illness) they hardly ever left each other’s side. Forrest was struggling with being able to comprehend what others were saying and he often withdrew from conversations. But he never withdrew from hearing about Jesus or listening to the Bible.

He believed that suffering was something God used: Romans 5:2-5 “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” He “Loved the Unlovely”, forgave freely. He was not perfect, but he reflected to many what it was to be a man after God’s Heart. He was truly a blessing to many.

Forrest was a quiet, gentle, kind and loving man. Anyone who met him or heard his faith promoting stories will not easily forget him. His voice resonated compassion and love, but also a toughness that could penetrate your heart. His humor was contagious. He loved to laugh and loved to trip you up with words that showed his enjoyment of laughing at you but also with you.

He has finished his race and now stands before his Lord, praising and glorifying God! He was blind, but now he sees!

Survivors: Mother: Elaine Brown Shaw: Wife: Marsha Lou Moon Shaw; Sisters: Scottine Worley, Kristine Keller (Joe), Grandchildren: Mackenzie Hughes, “V” (Alexa) Hughes, Eli Hughes, Ariel Shaw and Carson Shaw. Children by Marriage: Christine (Jim) Marquez, Paul Bryan Van Harn, Eric Van Harn. Grandchildren by Marriage: Gavin Marquez, Alysa Marquez and Keyaira Gravitt

Preceded in death by: Father: Clarence Lynn Shaw; Daughter: Jessica Hughes; Son: Forrest Lynn Shaw; Brother: Terrance L Shaw; Brother In Law: Chuck Worley

There will be a gathering in his remembrance on Friday, July 12th, 2024 5:00 pm at the Christ Presbyterian Church 8630 West Main Street (2700 South), Magna UT 84044 and then an open house at Forrest's and Marsha’s home from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.

Please consider parking at the school and walking to their home so that those who are older or handicapped may park close by.

Please bring a finger food to share with everyone.

There will be a book of remembrance. Please type or write a memory or something about Forrest you would like to share and it will be added to the book.