Forrest Noda leaves behind many friends

As the tower clock tolled ten, George Kotrady opened the door to the funeral coach and instructed pallbearers how the remains of Forrest Noda would be brought into the Basilica Cathedral for this morning’s funeral service.

The temperature fell to the low 40’s, however, that did not deter friends and family who came to the downtown Catholic Church to show their respect and share the loss of the 24 year-old St. Johns County native and lifelong resident of St. Augustine.

Noda died early Sunday morning after he and two passengers were thrown from his truck when the vehicle rolled over on a private road in the DuPont Center Hunting Camp located near SR-206 and I-95.

21 year-old Krystal E. Faris and 21 year-old Chelsea R. Register, also from St. Augustine, are recovering from serious, but not life-threatening, injuries that were sustained in the accident.

Some people approached Historic City News editor Michael Gold to find out why so many large pickup trucks, many with dog boxes and hunt club stickers, lined both sides of Cathedral Place — from Charlotte Street all the way to Cordova Street.

This was not a funeral noted with pomp and circumstance; but rather a somber and sorrowful moment for a young man who lost his life too soon and the grieving people that he leaves behind. Scores of young men and women who knew Noda attended this morning’s service; simply dressed in blue jeans and western hats.

In addition to being a member of the DuPont Center Hunting Club where he was killed, Noda, who was employed with St. Johns County as a water plant operator, was also a member of Allyby Lodge Inc., Red Barn Game Improvement, and the St. Johns County Cattleman’s Association. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved deer hunting and fishing.

Noda was buried at Craig Memorial Park.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer