Forrest H. O’Neal, lovingly known as Coach, of Rolla, MO, passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at the age of 95. He was born on February 4, 1931 to the late Luther and Josephine (Lammers) O’Neal. In addition to his parents and wife, Alice, he was also preceded in death by eight brothers, Luther, Chauncey, Royal, Robert, Ned, Francis, John and Charles; and three sisters, June, Nadine and Olive.
Forrest grew up in Mexico, MO with 12 siblings. He was the 10th out of thirteen children. Forrest has one sibling remaining; a sister named Joan Rice whom he enjoyed speaking to frequently. He graduated from Mexico High School in 1949. He was on the undefeated football team (9-0) his senior year. He played center and linebacker. His football team played Excelsior Springs in the first Mineral Water Bowl game on Thanksgiving Day in 1948.
He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in September 1949 and served his country for 3 years and 9 months. Before that, he served in the Missouri National Guard which he joined at age 15. He was in the Korean War from 1950-1951. He fought in the Chosin Reservoir Battle in North Korea in the winter of 1950. He and other Marines fought in minus 30-40 degree weather against 120,000 Chinese Communist forces and he survived to tell about it. His hands and feet were frost bitten from the severe freezing cold weather.
In September of 1952, he married Alice Gray in Little Rock, Arkansas while in the service. They were married for 70 years until she passed away on January 13, 2023. He was on the staff of the Marine Corps Reserve Training Center until December 1952.
After serving in the Marines, he attended college on the G.I. bill. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in education in 1957. He received his Master’s degree in Education from Missouri University in 1960. He taught school and coached at East Prairie, MO for 2 years.
For the next 31 years, Coach O’Neal was a tireless teacher and coach for the Rolla Public Schools. He taught at all levels. He loved working with young people and helping them to succeed in life.
Forrest and his wife, Alice, worked in Jefferson City, MO for the state government until they both retired in 1999. His wife assisted Mel Carnahan for 35 years from 1965-1999.
Forrest will be greatly missed by his surviving family which includes: one daughter, Susan Davis and husband, Randy of Camdenton, MO; one sister, Joan Rice of Fulton, MO; two grandchildren, Tonya Magner and husband, Cliffty and Jessica Davis-Rogers and husband, Brett; twelve great grandchildren, Lucas Magner and wife, Lydia, Logan Magner, Lawson Magner, Larissa Magner, Adalynn Magner, Anna Magner, Cliffty Magner, Jr., Abigail Magner, Austin Davis, Aubrey Davis, Meilani Rogers and Lane Rogers; and one great great grandchild, Eden Magner.
A funeral service for Forrest H. O’Neal will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla. Interment will follow in the Ozark Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held prior to the funeral beginning at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Veteran’s Memorial Park in Rolla. Online condolences may be offered at www.nullandsonfuneralhome.com.
All arrangements are under the direction of the Null and Son Funeral Home of Rolla.
