HODGDON – LeForest Clarence Gallop, 89, died May 23, 2006, at a local healthcare facility. He was born March 28, 1917, at Blaine, the son of Vaughn and Sadie (Terrill) Gallop. Forest married Alma Crawford, his beloved wife of 64 years, Nov. 23, 1941. He soon went into the service to proudly serve his country as a member of the U.S. Navy, aboard the USS Princeton from 1942-1945. When he returned, he and his brother, Vaughn, established Houlton Truck Express, a thriving truck repair garage which he later handed down to his sons in 1976. “Grampie Gallop,” as so many affectionately called him, loved his family, his church and his God. He always had open arms and an empty lap for 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He had a way of soothing the fussiest baby as well as comforting the most distraught adult. For many years he spent hours in his woodshop crafting keepsakes from simple bread boxes to elaborate grandfather clocks. His enduring faith and prodigious patience through years of illness were an inspiration to all those whose lives he touched and permanently altered. Forest is survived by his wife of Hodgdon; three sons, Gary Gallop and his wife, Trudy, of Bangor, Alwyn Gallop and his wife, Karen, Dennis Gallop, all of Houlton; one daughter, Kathy Chase and her husband, Peter, of New Limerick; 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; one sister, Pauline Porter of Presque Isle; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Michele Diane; his brother, Vaughn; and a sister, Helen Henderson. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Robert Johnston officiating. Interment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Gifts may be made in Forest’s memory to the First Baptist Church, stained glass window fund, care of Dunn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 127, Houlton, ME 04730.