Jane Anderson Blakemore Foster

Jane Anderson Blakemore Foster of Shelbyville died on Nov. 12, 2014, with her loving family at her side.
Due to a change in the city's Christmas parade the visitation will be 4 p.m. Saturday and the memorial service at 5 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 429 Main St. in Shelbyville.
Jane was born in Shelbyville on May 17, 1931, to Charles and Mary Edna Blakemore. She attended grade school and high school in town, and then it was off to Kentucky Wesleyan College in the fall of 1949.While at Wesleyan she compiled several academic and social credentials. She was the program committee chairman of the freshman class, a member of Alpha Psi Omega, The Booster Club, The Women's Athletic Association, The Wesleyan Girls, and the Pi Sigma Chi social sorority as secretary. She was elected to the Women's Cabinet and became the junior class vice president and vice president of the Women's Council. She was editor of the college yearbook and secretary-treasurer of the student body. She was also included in the prestigious publication of "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities." Perhaps the most memorable honor at Wesleyan was her election by her fellow students to represent the ideal Wesleyan girl, 1952-1953 Kentucky Wesleyan Rose. At the presentation ceremony, the college president told her that she had been elected because of "her charm and grace." After graduation she taught 7th grade physical education and coached in Waynesville (OH) and then in a Noble (IL) high school. It was there that she was "introduced" to John (Fred) Foster, an art teacher at a neighboring high school. This meeting eventually resulted in marriage in August 1956, and a move to Park Forest (IL) where John had accepted a teaching position at Bloom High School in Chicago Heights (IL). John and Jane started their family in 1957. Early on Jane started teaching junior high P.E. and coaching in Park Forest. After several years, she made a career move to a supervisory position at Bloom. After 41 years in Park Forest, the Fosters retired and moved to Shelbyville in 1998 to care for Jane's mother.
They began attending Centenary, Jane's childhood church, and participated in Sunday school (the friendship class), the regular Sunday morning services, and Wednesday evening bible study group. Thus, both Jane and John had joined the "Centenary family" and participated in church activities. After the move to Shelbyville, Jane became involved in The Muses book club, tutoring in Arriba Ninos, playing bridge, and getting together with former classmates for dinners, plays, travel, and horse racing. Jane had played golf extensively in Illinois and collected several championship trophies and plaques - she continued playing in Shelbyville. Several years ago, Jane started having health issues and had to curtail some of her physical activities. She did continue a lot of her interests and passions; reading, bridge, following the Chicago Cubs, U of K and Louisville teams, collecting sweatshirts, crossword puzzles, children and grandchildren, TV, her two cats, and phone conversations with family and friends.
Survivors include her husband John (Fred); daughter Marylynne (KY); son John C. Foster (Deedra) (KY); sister and best friend, Mary Louise Blakemore Beard of S.C.; grandchildren Chris (IN), Tony (WI) and Casey (IN) Berger; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends and neighbors in several states. Memorial gifts may be directed to the CYF/Youth, Ramp Ministry or Kids Korner at the Centenary United Methodist Church.