Forest "Cork" Galloway's Obituary
Forest "Cork" Galloway, 89, of Unionville, MO passed away at the Putnam County Care Center on Saturday, January 11th, 2025.
Cork Galloway was born in Putnam County on May 24th, 1935 the son of Neal and Fay (Burns) Galloway. Cork graduated from Unionville High School before enlisting in the U.S. Airforce. He served in the 6th Division "Head Hunters" as a Fighter Jet Mechanic on Naval Ships. Cork worked for Western Auto from 1958 to 1969 where many in the community remember Cork assembling their 1st bicycles. During his time on military leave, Cork would hitchhike throughout the United States. Later in life, Cork returned the favor by picking up many hitchhikers until a gentleman stole his Western Auto Delivery van while making a pit stop at a gas station. The van was later found in Des Moines.
On June 12th, 1958 Cork married the love of his life, Linda Stewart. They knew they wanted to raise a family on a farm so together they bought their first farm in Putnam County in the mid 1960's. Cork and Linda raised three children, Keri, Kent, and Kathi Lin, on that farm and it remains part of his family's life today. Cork and Linda loved to travel together. They didn't get to do it often, but they always returned with stories of their adventures when they did. A favorite story for Cork to tell was their trip to Mexico, where Cork managed to barter a cowboy out of the spurs he was wearing. The spurs hung on Cork and Linda's back porch for years.
Cork was always up before the sun rose and often worked until it went down. But, if you could catch him, you could count on him to share a cup of coffee with you in the morning or a beer with him in the evening after chores. When his grandchildren came to visit, he always provided their favorite Casey's pizza for dinner. They learned early that pizza and beer was the reward to a hard week's work and will continue to honor him. Later in life, Cork settled into watching Western movies, if John Wayne was in it, he had definitely seen it (probably more than once).
Cork is survived by his three children, Keri Galloway and Kent Galloway of Unionville, MO and Kathi Snyder and husband Bill of Liberty, MO. His surviving grandchildren are K'Lea, Colby, Caleb, and Kolter. Surviving great grandchildren are Liam, Lucas, June, Nellie, Kaitlyn, Kayden, Sage, Zayleigh, Kaylynn, Kayliah, Kesslyn, and KamBee. Cork is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and a life-long friend, Dixie Shipley.
In addition to his parents and wife, Cork was preceded in death by siblings: Wilma Likes, Jean Whitworth, Lois Whitworth, Freal Galloway, Betty Hodges, Frank Galloway, James Galloway, and Jimmy Galloway; nieces and nephews: Rick Robison, Pam Galloway, Mike Galloway, Joe Stewart, Jeff Whitworth, Tom Hodges, Ronny Likes, Jenny Whitworth, David Whitworth, Jim Whitworth, and Karen Pyron.
A Memorial Visitation will be held Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 10:00 am to Noon at Thomas Funeral Home in Unionville, MO with the family inviting everyone after, to join them for a Luncheon at The Lions Club from Noon to 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests any memorial donations be made payable to West Liberty Cemetery and entrusted to the Thomas Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.
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