Joyce Suzanne Foster's Obituary
Joyce Suzanne Foster was born on June 20, 1938, in Green Forest, Arkansas, the loving daughter of Reva Joyce Cox Conley and John Leonard Conley. Suzanne kept joyous memories of growing up in Green Forest and her time at Green Forest High School, serving as Homecoming Queen, Varsity cheerleader, being voted Best All-Around Student and the Basketball Queen, and playing four years of Varsity basketball (her basketball skills continued to amaze her children many years later).
Suzanne graduated from the University of Arkansas on June 4, 1960, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, majoring in English and Speech. While in college, Suzanne was active in the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and served as rush chairman. In addition, Suzanne served as President of the Panhellenic Council, as well as serving in the student senate. For her many collegiate accomplishments, she was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Soon after completing her undergraduate studies, Suzanne obtained a Master of Speech Pathology degree from Texas Woman’s University.
Suzanne married Gary Evert Foster on August 26, 1961. Gary and Suzanne were very happily married for 62 years, with two sons, Brad and Mike. Suzanne was a constant source of warmth, love and laughter for her family. Suzanne also made lifelong friendships in all of the places she and Gary lived, from her hometown in Arkansas to Dallas, Denver, Woodway (Waco), Heath, and Fairview.
Upon graduation from the University of Arkansas, Suzanne began her career as a speech pathologist for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district, setting up its speech therapy program, and subsequently for the Dallas school district. After a career break to raise her sons, she went on to work for the La Vega district and rounded out her career working for the Garland school district for eighteen years, retiring in 1994.
Suzanne was a faithful follower of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and is now with Him in heaven. She died in McKinney, Texas, on July 6, 2023. She is survived by her husband Gary; son Bradley Wayne Foster and daughter-in-law Marcia Anne Foster of Dallas, Texas; son Michael Leonard Foster and daughter-in-law Carol Lorraine Foster of Fairview, Texas; grandchildren Sophia Suzanne Foster, Max Conley Foster, and Christopher Howard Foster; nieces and nephews Lee Conley, Jean Ann Beckley, George Zacha, David Zacha, Mark Zacha, Barbara Wentzel, Dianne Mendoza, Sandra Hopson, James Smith, Janet Blackwell, Lynnette Magnusen, Lorra Wick, and Lana Combs. Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, John Leonard Conley, Jr.
The Celebration of Suzanne’s Life will be held in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 5, 2023.
Donations are encouraged in lieu of flowers to a charity close to Suzanne’s heart as a former speech therapist, Operation Smile. Operation Smile is a charity that provides treatment for cleft lips and cleft palates to children without access to care. Donations may be made in Suzanne’s memory at the following link:
https://secure.operationsmile.org/site/TR/SmileFund/SmileFund?px=3101351&pg=personal&fr_id=2576
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