Anna Lou Foster

May 21, 1940 - December 4, 2020

Anna Lou (Pruett) Foster passed peacefully from this life to receive her eternal reward on Friday, December 4, 2020, while surrounded by her family at Carrollton Regional Medical Center in Carrollton, Texas. Anna was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on May 21, 1940 to Reverend Ben Jefferson Pruett and Mrs. Mary Eula (Keele) Pruett. After graduating from Poplar Bluff High School in 1958, she studied teaching at the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri from which she graduated in 1960. Anna furthered her studies at Missouri State University, along with other institutions periodically throughout her life. She enjoyed learning in a variety of areas, including the medical field and sign language. Anna obtained licensure as an Emergency Medical Technician and also translated classes and church services for the hearing impaired. After her children were grown and her husband had passed, Anna rejoined the workforce at Wyndham Resorts where she worked until her retirement. Anna married Oscar Allen Foster in 1962, and over the years they enjoyed ministering together with heartfelt love and passionate purpose as Sunday School teachers. Anna also served in other capacities within the various churches she attended, including: writing songs, directing a children's choir, singing soprano in the adult choir, and nursing home ministry. Anna strongly believed in sharing the love of Jesus Christ with people around her; she had given her own heart and life to Christ as a young adult. She felt great compassion for others experiencing difficulties and provided constant written, verbal, and in-person encouragement to numerous people throughout her entire life. Her love for fellow humankind led many into her sphere of gentle influence and she was blessed to have rewarding friendships formed in every place she lived. Anna cultivated friends from all over the world which naturally became her treasured souvenirs in the journey of life. Throughout her 80 years of life, Anna resided in Missouri, Louisiana, Texas and Colorado, with extended visits to Hawaii and California. Anna had a voracious appetite for learning, fed by her love for reading and always with an atlas and dictionary close by to learn geographical regions and to research new vocabulary. She enjoyed creative outlets such as sewing clothes for herself and loved ones, singing, playing the piano/accordion, drawing, and painting. Other favorite hobbies and interests included gardening, raising purebred Chihuahuas (loving all dogs and horses she met), bird watching, sunset-viewing, and spending time with her beloved family and friends who spanned cultures, nationalities, race, and age. Anna would laugh about having “itchy feet”, needing to travel and explore as many new places as possible. She relished every trip, and accomplished seeing 25 of the American States in her visits with family. She delighted joining different combinations of grown children, grandchildren, and her brother in spontaneous trips such as a cross-country road trip, camping in Colorado, exploring Civil War battlefields, a jaunt to Ensenada Mexico, and more. In 2009 she realized a life-long dream and savored an adventurous self-guided tour across Israel. Anna embraced life with her unique blend of poise, friendliness, curiosity, candor and good humor. To know her was to love her. Anna is survived by her brother Reverend Jerry Pruett of Ozark, Missouri; her four daughters, Sharon Knott and Janet Royer of Euless, Texas, Michelle Jin of The Colony, Texas, and Elizabeth SoShawna Gray of Aubrey, Texas; 7 grandsons and 6 granddaughters, as well as numerous great grandchildren. Anna was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 35 years, her brother Benjamin Joseph Pruett of New York, sisters Martha Sue Goodwin of Idaho and Emma Jean Pruett of Arkansas; as well as her son David Mark Foster of Missouri and stepson Larry Wayne Foster of Texas. Visitation is open to the public and will be December 15, 2020 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Guerrero-Dean Funeral Home in Grand Prairie, Texas. The funeral service is limited to only the immediate family due to COVID-19 restrictions, however it will be live streamed via Anna’s Facebook. Interment will be at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Arlington, Texas. Anna chose the same message used on the headstones of both her mother and son, and strongly prayed that it would forever echo in the heart and spirit of all who knew her; “Meet Me In Heaven.” In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Benevolent Fund or Missions Fund of Harvest Ministries at 3114 East Sunset Street, Springfield, Missouri 65804.