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Sharon Gay Foster June 1, 1935 - September 1, 2009 Sharon Gay Foster peacefully passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at the Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction, CO. She was the third of four children born to V. C. "Curly" and Eva Rigg Zinn on June 1, 1935 at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, CO. Mrs. Foster was 74 years of age. Sharon grew up in the Grand Valley spending many summers working with extended family in the peach orchards of Palisade, Colorado. She attended Grand Junction High School graduating in May of 1952. During her tenure in high school she honed one of her many talents, baton twirling, and led the Grand Junction High School Tiger marching band in many a parade down Main Street. Her great ability and fondness of twirling afforded her many opportunities, including opening a studio in the 1960's. She taught hundreds of young women from all over the Western Slope. She held competitions locally and took her students to camps in Missouri and other state wide competitions. On May 2, 1954 Sharon Zinn married Alvis D. 'Shorty' Fetter in a ceremony at the United Methodist Church on Fifth and White Avenues. Four children were born to Al and Sharon Fetter; Gaylynn Hoffman (Marcus) of Silverdale, WA; Kelley Fetter (Sharon) of Albuquerque, NM; Elizabeth Harris (Harold), and Alison Geer (Dan) of Grand Junction, CO. Together, Sharon and Al ran the Learn to Swim Program for the City of Grand Junction. Sharon became a water safety instructor trainer for the Red Cross and served the Western Slope in that capacity for many years by teaching the men in the Job Corps how to swim and how to teach others to swim. In addition, she certified many Grand Valley youth as Water Safety Instructors. She had a particular fondness for those mentally and/or physically challenged and thoroughly enjoyed introducing residents from the state home to water safety and the sport of swimming. Sharon and Al Fetter divorced in 1972. On April 7, 1975 Sharon and Bill 'Father Bill' Foster were joined in marriage at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Grand Junction, CO. This union blended two lives and two families. Sharon became the proud and loving step mother to Lynn (Aris) Damiani of Prescott, AZ; Layne (Ken) Racht of Brevard, NC, and Bob (Diana) Foster of Moscow, Russia. Sharon Foster loved holidays. A 'Rockwellian' Christmas was always her goal as she tirelessly turned the family home into a classically beautiful yet sublimely cheerful Winter Wonderland. Halloween meant pumpkin carving, Thanksgiving meant hauling out the pilgrims, Easter meant dying eggs and making bunny cakes with the grandkids, but the Fourth of July meant party with a capital P. Sharon was a true patriot and loved the red, white, and blue. Independence Day always included friends, family, food, frolicking relay games, and fireworks - lots of ' em. Sharon Foster had a deep and abiding faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a member of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church for 51 years. She served as a beloved youth group leader and more recently as an adult facilitator and Lay Eucharistic Minister. She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and a sister. The Rev. R.W. 'Father Bill' Foster, her soulmate and husband of 34 years, passed away May 3, 2009. Other survivors include her seven children, 17 grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 4, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church with the Reverend Hollis Wright officiating. The family requests any memorial gifts be made to either Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 3090B No. 12th, Grand Junction, CO 81506 or St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 3888 27 1/2 Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81506. Arrangements are under the direction of Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.Published in The Daily Sentinel on Sept. 3, 2009

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