Surrounded by family, Kelley Wilson Foster of Butler, GA, 85, passed away on Friday, September 13, 2024, at his home after a brief illness. Born on September 17, 1938, Mr. Foster was the youngest of three children born to Woodie Wilson Foster and Odessa Watson Foster Franklin. 

A lifelong resident of Georgia, Mr. Foster graduated from Talbot County High School, served in the US Army, and married the love of his life, Pat. He spent most of his career in the Life Insurance industry on a path across middle Georgia with many years spent in and around Griffin, Georgia, where he made many lifelong friends who started as professional acquaintances. During his years in Griffin, he was an active member of the Griffin Jaycees and the Birdie Squares dance club. After relocating to Taylor County, Georgia, he worked for and retired from the Georgia Department of Corrections. Not content to truly retire and with an entrepreneurial spirit he launched Foster’s Fire Extinguisher Service and managed it until health issues intervened. A recent recipient of his 60-year member pin, he was a Free Mason with the Fickling Lodge Masonic Temple, Butler, GA.  He was a member of the Butler First Baptist Church.

Mr. Foster enjoyed spending time in the garden during Spring and Summer and harvested many vegetables shared with family and friends. Once Fall arrived, he could usually be found on the road with flags flying as he traveled to watch the University of Georgia Bulldogs tear up the SEC. Winter days meant hours spent reading his beloved Western novels and watching many, many reruns of bygone era television Westerns...horses galloped loudly and frequently in the family room. Every season included transporting wedding cakes around the State while Pat sat in the back holding her breath and cake layers with every bump in the road. Many were the weekends that centered on one event or another for which they provided exceptional food. 

Mr. Foster is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Pat Foster, daughter Darlene (Damon) Sanders of Midland, GA, grandson Braden (Samantha) Sanders of Richland, WA, sister Martha Hutto of Columbus, GA, sister-in-law Linda (Hillery) Bone of Pensacola, FL, two brothers-in-law Benny (Dee) Coward of Panama City, FL and Jimmy Coward of Butler, GA, and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Kel Foster, his parents, step father John W. Franklin, brother-in-law Basil Hutto, sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth (Johnny) Rustin, niece Wanda Braziel and nephew Dennis Hutto.

Funeral services will be held at Butler First Baptist Church, Butler, GA, on Monday, September 16, 2024, at 3:00 pm. The family will receive guests one hour prior to the service in the church sanctuary. Interment will follow at Howard Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts benefitting either the Building Fund of Butler Baptist Church (PO Box 391, Butler, GA 31006) or the University of Georgia Food Scholarship, Let All The Big Dawgs Eat https://tate.uga.edu/food-scholarship which focuses on meeting food insecurity needs for UGA students.

You may sign the online guest register at www.mcleightonfuneralservice.com

McLeighton Funeral Service of Butler is in charge of arrangements.