Raymond E. Foster

Raymond E. Foster, 86, of Smithville, Mo., formerly of Edgerton, Mo., passed away, Wednesday, May 16, 2007.

He was born on May 4, 1921 to William Athel and Eunice Boone (Hendrix) Foster near Edgerton, MO, where he grew up and attended school. Raymond then served his country in the U. S. Army during W.W. II as a Tech-5. On January 10, 1942 he was united in marriage to Lillian “Tootie” Griffith.. They lived near Edgerton where they made their home. Tootie passed away on April 21, 1990. On July 14, 1991 he was united in marriage to Mary Seuell Malott. After their marriage they lived near Edgerton and in 1999 they moved to Smithville where they made their home.

Raymond farmed for many years, was care-taker for Ridgely Cemetery and later worked for the Hixson-Klein Funeral Homes. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing and hunting.

Raymond was a member of the Ridgely Christian Church , later the Edgerton Christian Church, and also served on the Ridgely Cemetery Board.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Rev. Jack Foster and Thomas Foster; brothers, W.A. Foster and Marvin Foster; sisters, Aletha Smith, Mary Rogers, Martha Daniels, Loretta Auxier and Millie Fehr; and step-daughter, Linda Pruitt.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, of the home; children, William Foster and wife, Judy, Camden Point, MO, Timothy Foster, Independence, MO, Cindy Heitz and husband, Jim, St. Joseph, MO; twelve grandchildren, Lance, Abby, Andrea, Darren, Adam, Joshua, John, Morgan, Jaclyn, Emily, Sara and Melissa; nine great-grandchildren; daughters-in-law, Mary Foster, Platte City, MO and Karen Foster, Edgerton, MO, brother, Loren Foster and wife, Hila, Smithville, MO; stepchildren, Judy Gilbride and husband, Mark, Smithville, MO, Richard Malott and Cindy Van Sickle, both of Trimble, MO; six step-grandchildren, Jim, Brandi, Liberty, Heather, Tyler and Chandler, eight step-great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 18^th at the Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Smithville.

Buiral with Military Honors: Ridgely Cemetery

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 P.M., Thursday, at the funeral home in Smithville.

Donations: Crossroads Hospice