November 23, 2021, 85, Springfield –
Myrtle Rae “Tootsie” (Warrick) Forest, 85, formerly of Springfield, passed away on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Daughter of the late Coleman G “Mink” Warrick and Ella (Langston) Warrick, she was born September 11, 1936 in Watha, NC. The youngest of 8 siblings, Tootsie grew up in Goldsboro, NC. She married Normand Forest in 1957 and settled in Springfield, MA to raise her family. Tootsie was a devoted wife, mother, neighbor and homemaker. She never missed an opportunity to attend her sons’ sports events and was a good neighbor to all. An accomplished Southern cook and baker, her signature dishes were pork barbecue, ham hocks and black-eyed peas, fish fry and hushpuppies. Her family enjoyed her pecan pie and German chocolate cake on their birthdays. We truly regret that Tootsie didn’t publish a cookbook and her recipes rest with her. Tootsie often cared for her grandchildren in their younger years and was always there to support them as they grew up. Tootsie bravely lived her life with dementia by keeping a positive spirit and finding joy in all human interactions. She enjoyed calls from her niece Glenda Cruse and granddaughter Jennifer Forest. She admired flowers sent by Betty and Timmy Warrick and John Stone. She had fun getting manicures and shopping in Plymouth with her daughter-in-law Kathleen. Tootsie and Kathleen decorated her room for every holiday, to the delight and enjoyment of the other residents. She loved going out to breakfast with her son Dale and for coffee with grandchildren Dale Shannin, Drew and Shae. A fan of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, she enjoyed singing “All Shook Up” and “A Bushel and a Peck” She loved a good laugh, being silly with a good inside joke and Big Papi was her favorite baseball player. She loved living on the Cape and spending holidays at Dale and Kathleen’s. She adored her dogs Prince, Pepper, Bingo, Bobby, CiCi and Snoopy.
Myrtle is survived by her loving sons Dale Forest (Kathleen) of Sandwich, MA and Normand Forest (Patricia) of CT. She is the cherished grandmother of Dale Shannin, Drew, Shae, Jason and Jennifer Forest and great-grandmother of Emma, Abby, Ben, Olivia, Aiden and Gabriel. She is fondly remembered by her brothers and sisters-in-law Georgette English, Bob and Dea Forest, Fernando and Betty Forest as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is the former mother-in-law of Alex Forest. She will be missed by her friends Sheila O’Shaughnessy, Karolain Cardona, Sean Palmer, Christian Bartlett-Forest and Diane Willemain. Tootsie loved her longtime neighbors in East Springfield and Sargon St; Priscilla Kelley, Joe and Kathy Surprenant and the Sleeper, Bousquet and Cooney families. She could rely on Patrick Bagge to maintain her property.
Tootsie was predeceased by her husband Normand Forest in 2008 and her 7 siblings James, Grace, Magdalene, Edna, Gaynelle, Ben and Kenneth Warrick.
Tootsie’s family is grateful to the staff, patients and families at Bourne Manor, she received exceptional care from all. They are especially grateful to her devoted caregivers Suzanne, Wanda and Kevin. Special thanks to Chris Mele and staff at Sunrise of Plymouth Beach and to Gretchen and the staff at Beacon Hospice.
In remembrance of Tootsie, please reach out and help another human being. Practice this every day in any way that you can. And remember what Tootsie would say, “If you can’t be good, be careful!”
Funeral services for Tootsie will be Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 12:00 Noon at the Kapinos-Mazur Funeral Home, 64 Sewall St., Ludlow, MA followed by burial in the Mass Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Agawam, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Diamonds in the Rough Canine Rescue, P.O. Box 10033, Goldsboro NC 27533 or ditrnc.com.
