Beatrice Ethel Foster

Bea was born in the small town of Eldorado, Oklahoma, the fifth of nine children born to Pearl and Bennie Simer. In 1940 she married James Arthur Foster in Montague County, Texas. Jim was a widower with two small daughters, Marie and Helen. Bea dearly loved her readymade family, adding son James in 1941. In the summer of 1941, the family moved to Yucaipa, CA. Frightened by rumors of war, Jim s father summoned them back to Texas in late September. In 1950 the family returned permanently to California. Bea was a talented seamstress and famous for her biscuits, Swiss steak, peach cobbler, and homemade jelly. But her real passion was quilting, especially quilts made from old blue jeans. She often shared stories of learning to quilt from her mother and aunts. At Foster Family Reunions she taught the extended family to quilt. Bea lost her husband in 1963; with four young daughters to care for she turned her cooking skills into a career. She worked for Braswell s Health Care for 25 years as a cook and later kitchen supervisor. Bea loved to travel with her children or to see her children. Her trips included New York, San Francisco, Lake Powell, Washington DC, Florida, the Bahamas, and Hawaii. Her final trip was in September 2014 when she traveled to Utah to attend her sister s 60th wedding anniversary. Bea was predeceased by her husband Jim, her parents, five sisters, one brother, and her daughter Marie Fletcher (Harold). She is survived by her children: Helen Moore (Bob), James Foster (Linda), Ann Rogers (Don), Wanda Nicks (Dave), Sharon Buetow (Gary), Rebecca McCurdy (Mike), Ilene Foster, and Phyllis Brandes. She is also survived by her sister Flo Allen (David), brother L.M. Simer, thirty-two Grandchildren, fifty-eight Great Grandchildren, ten Great Great Grandchildren, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. Beatrice Ethel Foster was a brave woman who loved sweet peas, yellow roses, and her family. Visitation will be held one hour prior and A memorial service will be held at 11am on Tuesday December 2, 2014 at Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel, 35208 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa, CA. Immediately following will be the interment at Hillside Cemetery, Redlands, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her name to the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation.