Forrest Leroy Grabill (1962-1971)

GRABILL, TAYLOR, GRAYBILL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/6/2014 at 21:35:20

From Nevada Evening Journal June 16, 1971 (Front page)

Sand pit at Maxwell is scene of tragedy

By Wit Ledbetter

An evening of family togetherness turned suddenly into heart-rending tragedy Tuesday evening with the death of eight year old Forrest Leroy Grabill, Nevada.

Forrest, the son of Mrs. and Mrs. Richard Grabill, 335 N, Nevada, was drowned about 8:15 p.m. in the Peters Sand Pit just north and west of Maxwell.

The Grabills and three of their four sons, none of whom could swim, were at the pit to fish and enjoy the water. The boys had air mattresses and were frolicking in the water while the parents remained on shore nearby to fish.

Mrs. Don Ferguson, Maxwell, who was fishing across the pit from the family, said there was a good deal of noise from the playing boys, but suddenly there was something different in the sounds and she commented to a young man nearby that is sounded like there was trouble.

The brothers ran to nearby homes to get help. Ernest Travis went quickly to the scene after being notified by one of the youths. First at the scene coming out to join his wife in fishing, was Don Ferguson.

Ferguson immediately went into the water and dove in bye area where they thought the child had gone down. The water was too deep. The father, Ferguson and Travis were joined by others without results.

By this time the boy had been submerged for more than 10 minutes and there was little hope. A diver was first called from Ames, but Steve Stoneberg, a Maxwell college student, donned his scuba and and mask and found the boy.

The Maxwell fire department resuscitator was used, to no avail.

It is the first water tragedy for the small but deep pit near Maxwell. "But it's something we've been waiting for and dreading for a long time," said one Maxwell man as he walked away from the scene.

Nearly a hundred townspeople were at the pit in the final moments of the tragedy. After the child's body was taken away by ambulance, groups of people walked head-down and silent along the gravel road back to the highway.

The Grabills have lived in Nevada for two and a half years, moving here from Minburn. The father works as Nevada Farm Center in Nevada. The boys Richard, Larry and Daniel attend the Nevada school.

OBITUARY

Forrest Leroy Grabill, 8, was born November 25, 1962 in Perry, Iowa, the son of Richard and Sarah Grabill.

Survivors include three brothers, Richard, Larry and Daniel, all of the home, and one sister, Lena Jane; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Mattie Taylor of Kansas City, Mo., and his paternal grandfather, Archie Graybill of Minburn.

Funeral services will be at the Ryan Funeral Home Friday at 1:30 p.m. with the Rev. Robert Baker officiating.

Burial will be in the Nevada Cemetery.