Mr. Forrest Lee (Mac) MacDowell, age 79, of Chincoteague Island, husband of Sandra Lee West MacDowell, passed away at his residence on Oct. 10, 2025. He was the only child of the late Ruth Beebe MacDowell and the late Forrest Cleland MacDowell.
Mac graduated from Chincoteague High School in 1964. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to Naval Station Norfolk after basic training. He spent his Navy time aboard a ship, much to his delight, as he had a deep love and passion for being out on the water.
After his discharge from the Navy in 1969, he returned home to Chincoteague and started his career with NOAA at Wallops Island. He retired in 2001 as an electronics supervisor with 36 years of combined government service.
Mac realized his longtime dream and goal in July 1997 when he received his U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Merchant Marine Officer’s Master’s License. He began his charter boat business three years prior to retirement from NOAA to build his clientele. He continued his chartering business for 20 years, operating as Capt. Mac on the Islander. He made the decision to retire from chartering in 2017.
Mac and Sandy began as a couple in high school. They went to his senior prom and her junior prom together and dated. Life took them in different directions but brought them back together eight years later. The second time was for a lifetime. Mac and Sandy were married on June 30, 1973, at Christ United Methodist Church by the Rev. Fred Marvel, and they enjoyed 52 wonderful years together. Their journey together embraced their joint love of being on the water, beaches, and boats — lots of boats! They spent many years together fishing and surfing in Cape Hatteras, fishing in Alaska, and vacationing and fishing in Key Largo. So many memories were made, as well as many lifelong friends, along the way.
Mac was a member of Accomack Masonic Lodge 243. For many years, he was vice president of the Chincoteague Charterboat Association and a member of the Chincoteague Decoy Carvers Association. He also enjoyed many hours in his workshop creating carvings and many unique woodworking items.
In view of their many shared years of love and dedication to one another, Mac and Sandy made a mutual from-the-heart decision to be cremated. Upon Sandy’s passing, their ashes will be combined, and they will continue their journey together. Their ashes will be interred at the family plot, located at Daisey Cemetery, Church Street, in Chincoteague.
In addition to his parents, Mac was predeceased by his in-laws, Arthur Grayson West and Lucille Hill West; his stepmother, Etta Manning MacDowell; his stepbrother, Ray Manning Jr.; and his stepmother, Joyce Carpenter MacDowell.
In addition to his wife, Sandy, he is survived by his sister-in-law, Sherry West Ennis; his brother-in-law, Ishmael Ennis; his nephews, Troy Mason and wife, Chantelle, Lester H. Bowman III, and Larry G. Marsh II; his great-nephew, Camden Grayson Bowman; his great-niece, Amelia Rose Marsh; his special cousin-in-law, Toni Tyndall Aldrich; his daughters, Shay Robertson (Jason) and Kristi Ammons (Jeff), of Williamsburg; his stepsisters, Vicky Manning Thornton (husband, Joe) and Cathy Manning; his stepbrother, David Tarr; and his stepsisters, Jennifer Tarr Van Hart (husband, Carroll) and Angel Carpenter Schmeckenbecher (husband, John).
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Union Baptist Church on Chincoteague Island. The Rev. Kevin Eley will officiate the memorial service. He and his wife, Marsha, have been neighbors and friends of Mac and Sandy for 20 years.
In lieu of flowers, if desired, memorial donations may be made to the Chincoteague Food Closet, c/o Craig and Karen Summers, P.O. Box 584, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336, or Riverside Shore Hospice, P.O. Box 616, Onley, VA 23418, or a charity of choice.
The family would like to extend thanks to Riverside Shore Hospice and include a special thank-you to Ava and Donnie for their dedication and care.
Services were entrusted to Salyer Funeral Home, Inc., on Chincoteague Island.
