Obituary for Pamela Ann Prather Foster
Pamela Ann Prather Foster, 70, of Childress, Texas, passed away September 25, 2023, after an extended battle with superficial siderosis. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church with Lou Ellerbrook officiating.
Pam stated many times that she had lived a truly blessed life, giving full credit to her Lord and Savior for His love and mercy, and for the love and care of family and friends. Special thanks to the staff of the Childress Health Care Center for their continuous care and love.
Pam was born January 29, 1953, to G.B. and Agnes Harrington Prather in Nocona, Texas. She was a graduate of Nocona High School where she excelled at music. She attended Kilgore College on a music scholarship; however, with a change of heart and coursework, she transferred to Tarleton State University, graduating in 1975 with a degree in Home Economics. She went on to teach Home Economics in Mexia, Texas, while also serving as a 4-H leader. Her love for the 4-H program and its impact on youth caused her to leave teaching and become a County Extension Agent in 1978. She continued her education, earning a Master of Arts in Home Economics from Sam Houston State University in 1981.
In 1993, she married the long-awaited love of her life, Lyall P. Foster. Over the years, she could be heard saying “God had saved him for me”. It took lots of patience to be the spouse of a county agent, but Lyall handled it with ease.
Pam served as a County Extension Agent to seven counties in her 30-year extension career. In 2000, she was appointed as District Extension Director for Home Economics for the Rolling Plains District, overseeing Home Economics and 4-H in 21 counties. In 2002, she was promoted to the position of Regional 4-H Program Director of the North Region of Texas, where she provided leadership and subject matter training for the 4-H programs in 62 counties in the Panhandle, High Plains and Rolling Plains regions of Texas. In 2006, due to declining health, she returned to her beloved Childress County as County Extension Agent until her retirement in 2008.
She was the recipient of numerous honors and awards over her career, but none she was prouder of than having five 4-H’ers follow her in extension careers, all of whom have risen to leadership and positions of recognition. Any time she received an award, she was prompt to credit her team of stellar agents, 4-H parents, leaders, and community sponsors. She truly felt she “had the best”.
Pam was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she was active in the choir, Sunday schools and UMW activities. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Handmade Card Guild, and was active in the Childress Theater Group, Walk to Emmaus and the Texas Extension Association. In her spare time, she loved reading, cooking, gardening and antiquing.
Pam is preceded in death by her parents G.B. and Agnes Prather, brother Sammy Prather, mother-in-law, LoAnn Foster Gee, and her “other mothers”, Alta Beth Garrison and Frena Winters.
She was survived by her precious husband, Lyall, until his passing in March of 2024, and her aunt, Pearl Dennis, until her passing in December of 2023. She is survived by sister in law Jane Prather, brothers-in-law Stephen Foster and wife Laura, Greg Winters and wife Meme, Glen Winters and wife Linda, and Gary Winters and wife Anh, aunt Dorothy Weaver, nieces Amy Schiller and husband David, Chelsea Foster, Danielle Finch and husband Paul, and Tiffany Kelley and husband Michael, nephews Keaton Foster and wife Elissa, and Weston Foster and wife Sandi, as well as numerous great nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations benefiting an annual memorial scholarship in Pam’s name can be made to Childress County 4-H, 100 Avenue E NW, Courthouse Box 9, Childress, Texas 79201-3700.
Pam stated many times that she had lived a truly blessed life, giving full credit to her Lord and Savior for His love and mercy, and for the love and care of family and friends. Special thanks to the staff of the Childress Health Care Center for their continuous care and love.
Pam was born January 29, 1953, to G.B. and Agnes Harrington Prather in Nocona, Texas. She was a graduate of Nocona High School where she excelled at music. She attended Kilgore College on a music scholarship; however, with a change of heart and coursework, she transferred to Tarleton State University, graduating in 1975 with a degree in Home Economics. She went on to teach Home Economics in Mexia, Texas, while also serving as a 4-H leader. Her love for the 4-H program and its impact on youth caused her to leave teaching and become a County Extension Agent in 1978. She continued her education, earning a Master of Arts in Home Economics from Sam Houston State University in 1981.
In 1993, she married the long-awaited love of her life, Lyall P. Foster. Over the years, she could be heard saying “God had saved him for me”. It took lots of patience to be the spouse of a county agent, but Lyall handled it with ease.
Pam served as a County Extension Agent to seven counties in her 30-year extension career. In 2000, she was appointed as District Extension Director for Home Economics for the Rolling Plains District, overseeing Home Economics and 4-H in 21 counties. In 2002, she was promoted to the position of Regional 4-H Program Director of the North Region of Texas, where she provided leadership and subject matter training for the 4-H programs in 62 counties in the Panhandle, High Plains and Rolling Plains regions of Texas. In 2006, due to declining health, she returned to her beloved Childress County as County Extension Agent until her retirement in 2008.
She was the recipient of numerous honors and awards over her career, but none she was prouder of than having five 4-H’ers follow her in extension careers, all of whom have risen to leadership and positions of recognition. Any time she received an award, she was prompt to credit her team of stellar agents, 4-H parents, leaders, and community sponsors. She truly felt she “had the best”.
Pam was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she was active in the choir, Sunday schools and UMW activities. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Handmade Card Guild, and was active in the Childress Theater Group, Walk to Emmaus and the Texas Extension Association. In her spare time, she loved reading, cooking, gardening and antiquing.
Pam is preceded in death by her parents G.B. and Agnes Prather, brother Sammy Prather, mother-in-law, LoAnn Foster Gee, and her “other mothers”, Alta Beth Garrison and Frena Winters.
She was survived by her precious husband, Lyall, until his passing in March of 2024, and her aunt, Pearl Dennis, until her passing in December of 2023. She is survived by sister in law Jane Prather, brothers-in-law Stephen Foster and wife Laura, Greg Winters and wife Meme, Glen Winters and wife Linda, and Gary Winters and wife Anh, aunt Dorothy Weaver, nieces Amy Schiller and husband David, Chelsea Foster, Danielle Finch and husband Paul, and Tiffany Kelley and husband Michael, nephews Keaton Foster and wife Elissa, and Weston Foster and wife Sandi, as well as numerous great nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations benefiting an annual memorial scholarship in Pam’s name can be made to Childress County 4-H, 100 Avenue E NW, Courthouse Box 9, Childress, Texas 79201-3700.