Shirley Verlee Foster

Shirley was born on January 3, 1935, to Jessie Louise Patterson and Vernon Bradburn Keesee in Klamath Falls, OR., where she enjoyed her childhood years surrounded by family, grandparents and cousins who lived nearby.

After graduating in 1953 from Klamath Union High School, Shirley married Gerald Carlyle Foster on September 19, 1953. Soon after the marriage they moved to the Seattle, Washington area to start their lives together.

Shirley and Gerald had two sons, Gerald Wayne Foster and Bruce Alan Foster.

Shirley was a dedicated wife and loved being a full-time mother; always supportive, loving and putting her family first.

When her sons were older, she went to work as a teacher’s aide at a local elementary school where she continued to help the “family” of children in the community.

Later in life she worked for Group Health and Safeco Life insurance companies doing clerical work for many years. Shirley eventually retired but kept busy by volunteering at the Snohomish Visitor Center in Snohomish, WA, and then part-time employment at a laundromat in Lynnwood, WA.

Spending time with family was very important to Shirley. She loved adventure and enjoyed many trips to the ocean with her son Gerald (Jerry) and his family, and road trips to Oregon, Colorado, various National Parks, and beyond with her son Bruce and his family.

In her 50th class reunion booklet she was quoted as saying, “My greatest accomplishments are to live long enough to see my sons with their own families and to know the grandkids as people!” Shirley loved the opportunity to help others and bring a smile to their faces.

Shirley was also very passionate about animals, especially her cats, Hissy and Charlotte. They were her pride and joy and gave her purpose, giving both cats a lifetime of love.

Shirley was predeceased by her husband Gerald Carlyle Feb. 23, 1999, and her sisters, Betty Eileen Keesee, who died Aug. 19, 1932, and Beverly Jean (Keesee) Cooper who died Nov. 14, 2018, and her daughter-in-law Deborah Jean (White) Foster, who died Sept. 4, 1976.

She is survived by son Gerald (Jerry) Wayne Foster, granddaughter Heather Ann (Foster) Patterson (Christopher Lynn Patterson), and grandson Lance Gerald Foster (Rebecca Ann Severson); son Bruce Alan Foster (Denise Kay Hunter), and granddaughters Katie Lynn (Foster) Swanson (Matthew James Swanson) and Stacey Kay (Foster) Gutierrez (Francisco Gutierrez).

She is also survived by three great-grandsons, Silas Zachary Swanson, Lincoln James Swanson and Royal Franklin Gutierrez.

Shirley will be remembered as a sweet soul who loved the adventures of life. She is now in God’s Hands enjoying the company of those that went before her.