Mary Helen Foster, known for her sweet and gentle nature, kind spirit, and deep love of family, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at the age of 99. Born in 1925 to Frank and Lillian Austin, Mary was the oldest of six children raised in a small farming community of Northeast Arkansas. Together, Mary and her siblings worked tirelessly alongside their parents to farm over 40 acres of cotton and care for the livestock and chickens that provided for their survival.
In 1943, at 18 years of age, Mary and Charles Allen Foster were married and together they had three children: Jim Allen, Michael Steven, and Sandra Kay. The family moved from Arkansas to Central California when their oldest child, Jim, was just three years old. Tragically, Mary was widowed in 1964 when her husband Charles was killed in an automobile accident. Braced with self-determination and the love and support of extended family, Mary persevered in providing for her two younger children, Michael and Sandra, who still lived at home.
In the late 1960s Mary began dating Alton Ray Foster and within a few short years they married. For more than four decades they enjoyed living at Woodward Bluffs Park on the San Joaquin River. Together, they created a beautiful home for themselves and took great pleasure in hosting family and friends for holidays and special events.
Mary was a beloved grandma to several grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. Mary showered each with an abundance of love, always remembering to honor each of them on their birthdays and holidays.
Mary was a meticulous homemaker who enjoyed cooking and baking. She regularly blessed family and friends with generous helpings of delicious fried chicken and mashed potatoes, chili beans and spaghetti; and yummy desserts such as her famous chocolate, lemon meringue, and pecan pies; berry cobbler; persimmon cookies; and banana nut bread. Mary is fondly remembered for having a sweet tooth. In moderation, she regularly enjoyed eating cupcakes, cookies, and Peppermint Patties and sipping on a Pepsi a day.
Mary is survived by her son, Jim Foster; sister Bertha Derrick; grandchildren, Lisa Foster, Cathy Hensley, Mike Foster, Billy Foster, and David Foster; great grandchildren, Michael Foster, Savannah Hensely, Troy Foster, Andrés Foster, Bobby Foster, and Sherri Foster; and several great great grandchildren. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Lillian Austin; husbands, Charles Allen and Alton Ray; siblings, George, Kenneth, Iris, and Harold; children Sandra Foster and Michael Foster; and great grandchildren, Mikey Foster, Crystal Foster, and Sam Hensley. Her family feels blessed by God to have enjoyed her loving presence in their lives for so many years.
