DeForrest Edwin Cline died Wednesday, May 9, at the age of 93. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, of the home; daughter JoAnn Gary of Lee’s Summit, MO; daughter Patricia Fash and her husband, James Fash – both daughters born to DeForrest and Lucille Cline. He is also survived by his sister, Betty Kolb of Harrisonville, MO; three grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.

DeForrest attended elementary schools in Sedalia and St. Louis and graduated high school in California, MO in 1936. He attended Central Methodist University at Fayette, MO briefly before entering the workforce. He began a career with the Missouri Pacific Railroad that spanned 23 years, where he was involved in the system transition from steam to diesel-electric locomotives and the acquisition of the railroad by the Union Pacific System.

In 1960, DeForrest left the railroad to begin work with the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, initially in Omaha, NE and then in Chicago, IL. He was responsible for all apprenticeship and training programs supporting railroads across the country. His talents and work ethic were rewarded by a transfer to Washington, DC to oversee similar programs across the transportation industry. He retired from government service in 1982.
DeForrest served in the Army during WWII with the 13th Combat Engineers of the 7th Infantry Division – initially in Okinawa and then in Korea. He was honorably discharged as a First Sergeant in 1946.
In preparing for retirement, DeForrest and Dorothy moved from Washington, DC to Springfield, MO in 1978. He became a member of the Downtown Rotary Club and was very engaged in the civic community. He was a member and eventual President of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) and the Missouri Federation of NARFE Chapters. He also served as Ombudsman for the Council of Churches of the Ozarks. He was elected to represent Greene County in the Missouri Silver-Haired Legislature and served for 18 years.
He became an activist for senior citizens, becoming involved in initiatives that advocated for better quality lives for senior citizens. DeForrest was a vocal advocate for developing the Springfield South Side Senior Center, served as the Center’s first President, and served on the Board of Directors up to the time of his death. He was instrumental in the successful campaign to establish the Greene County Senior Citizen Service Tax and served on the Board of the Greene County Commission charged with distributing those tax dollars.

DeForrest and his family attended church in the many communities they called home and was an avid member of many church and community choirs. DeForrest and Dorothy attended National Avenue Christian Church.
Funeral services will be held at Greenlawn Funeral Home South (441 West Battlefield Rd) on Monday, May 14, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. Family visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in DeForrest’s name to the Springfield South Side Senior Center (2215 South Fremont Avenue).