Jo Ann Foster

Born on 6 Dec 1933 in Cross Cut, Texas to parents, James Clifton Herring and Oma Elizabeth Fry Herring. In 2010 Cross Cut census reported a total population of 22 people approximately the same as 90 years ago. She passed on June 4, 2025.
She often joked that she skipped the third grade and was held back in the fifth grade. She attended a one room schoolhouse with sister, Mary Elizabeth Herring Ballard in Fort Smith, Arkansas where their parents were dairy farmers. Many of you have a copy of her published life story.
Joann married Harry Goddard Foster III on June 13, 1959. All four of their parents only met each other once for an hour or so at the Dallas airport but not until after the couple had been married over twenty five years.
Jo Ann was a very cautious and quiet person, but never failed to leave a positive impression on everyone she met. Though reserved in her emotions, it was clear that she cared and loved deeply.
She soldiered on when the US Government told her to move to Okinawa with two and three old boys. Prohibited from telling her family her husband was not with her but was being shot at in Vietnam.
She served and supported everyone around her to make ends meet and create a safe environment. She woke her boys up a half hour early every week day for years to read to them before sending them off to school. (That Quail Robert, The Phantom Tollbooth are still strong memories after nearly 60 years)
She fretted over every detail. This included keeping a file of 3x5 cards of what she wore and what she served for all dinner guests at our home to ensure she didn't repeat anything.
She was a maximizer not a sufficier. One year granddaughter Stefanie wanted red jeans. Jo Ann found them at the first store she entered. Check the box, end of story for any of the rest of us. But not for her, she spent hours going to all the stores in the mall to make sure there wasn't a better pair before returning to the first store and buying the jeans.
She enjoyed cooking and was great at it, but stuck exactly to the recipes. She hated deciding for everyone what to cook. She eventually made all three of us write down all our favorite meals and then create for her a meal calendar for the month, so she didn't have to decide.
Painting for her was a lifelong passion. She was constantly enrolling in classes to learn and try different mediums. While in Hot Springs Arkansas she enrolled granddaughter Megan in a multi-week long painting course that they enjoyed together.
Jo Ann endowed a scholarship at Arkansas State University (Fort Smith Community college where mom and dad met, merged into ASU). The recipient must be a a single mother. About $50,000 in tuition assistance has already been granted to five students. She was also a teacher of adult literacy for nearly two decades. She took great pride in the progress of her students.
Jo Ann is preceded in death by her parents, husband of 64 years and brother-in-law, John Ballard. She is survived by eldest son, Douglas Brian Foster and wife, Shari Kay Foster and youngest son, Michael Edward Foster and wife, Linda Foster; grandchildren, Stefanie Foster Herrington and husband, Paul Herrington, Kristyn Erin Foster Thomas and husband, Kyle Thomas, David Brian Foster and wife, Erin Donahoe Foster and Megan Elizabeth Foster Southerland and husband, Erik Southerland. Great children, Jax William Thomas, Easton John Southerland, Kaiden Greyson Raschke, Harper Jay Thomas, Wade Matthew Foster and Hazel Ruth Herrington. Sister, Mary Elizabeth Ballard, Nieces Nancy Jo Ballard Doss and husband David Doss, Cindy Lynn Ballard Covel and husband, Jim Covel and Nephew John "Steve" Ballard, Jr. and wife Amy Reeves Ballard. Great Nephews David "Ryan" Ballard, John Marshall Doss and Ross Puryear. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Jo, please visit our Tree Store.