Born December 26, 1921 in Canon City, Colorado, to Robert and Grace Foster. She died May 17, 2019 after a life well lived. Her father owned a pig ranch and Jean grew up driving a garbage truck while her brother and father collected and sorted food for the pigs. Her mother taught her to play the piano and that began a lifelong love of music, especially hymns. She later taught piano for many years in many places.
She told the family that she was shipped off to college to avoid the romances of the local boys. It didn’t work. She met the love of her life, and future husband Loren, at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas. They were married two years later.
She taught school in a 1 through 12, one room school house in Kansas and later in the inner city of Niagara Falls NY.
Loren became a Presbyterian minister and they were called to churches in Pennsylvania, New York, Montana and Wenatchee, Washington. After some interim ministry they settled in Buckley, Washington to be near family and became associated with the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Enumclaw. Loren died in 1996 in Buckley. In 2010 Jean moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico to be with her son, Tim. If you knew Jean you knew she was strong willed and lived a life of purpose.
She had a strong faith and it was reflected in the way she lived her life. She loved to get to know people and never hesitated to strike up a conversation with friend or stranger alike. Once in her circle of friends, you were in that circle for life. She kept in touch with friends and family as long as she could, and until recently could tell a good story.
She and Loren raised four boys, and never complained when she found frogs in pockets and was never surprised by what they could do. She learned to love sports. She is survived by her four sons, Loren with LaRae of Juneau, Alaska, Stuart with Kathy in Enumclaw, Washington, Mark with Karla in Bettendorf, Iowa, and Tim with Donna in Las Cruces, New Mexico, eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren to whom she was known as GG….Gramma Great!
A memorial service is scheduled for July 21, 2019 in Wenatchee, Washington.
Rest in Peace GG, you were loved and will be missed immensely.
