Sharon Lindsay

Sharon Lee Foster was born on September 23, 1937 to Evelyn Lucille Ireland Foster and William Dale “Pete” Foster (or Dale William, his brothers and sisters could not agree on which it was). Sharon’s mother grew up in Decatur and her father in Lovington.

Sharon as a baby

Sharon and her brother Peter Foster grew up in Lovington. Sharon spoke fondly of her memories of Lovington as a busy city and missed the stores and shops of her youth.

In high school Sharon had many friends and was a cheerleader.

Sharon and Pete

Sharon with her mom, Evelyn and brother Pete.

Sharon and Pete

Sharon loved Lovington. She lived in Fisher but returned to Lovington. She thought Lovington should somehow use the name to its advantage and wanted the post office to postmark valentine cards with the town’s name.

Sharon and Dave

Sharon met David Lindsay in Lovington and they were married in August 1957, they divorced after many years of marriage. They had three children, Don (Carol), Dava (Ghan), and Darci (Gary). Sharon in keeping with the Foster name was a foster parent for many years.

Sharon with her children, parents, brother Pete and his family.



Sharon, Dava, Darci, Don



Evelyn, Sharon, Darci Dava, Don, Alexis, Addie, Kirk, October

Grandchildren and great grandchilren at Evelyn's 100th birthday party.

Pete, Sharon and Evelyn

Sharon and Evelyn

On a cruise with Don and his family

Sharon and her oldest grandson Shane

At Myrtle Beach with Kirk (Darci's son) and Don's family

Sharon worked for 30 years with elderly in the community and several nursing homes. She also worked for the American Red Cross and managed the Champaign county meals on wheels program.

She was a supporter of “Another mother for Peace.” Sharon had very strong political views and loved to write letters to politicians and share those views. She advocated for less war, more peace and free birth control.

Sharon was an environmentalist and took pride in leaving a small carbon foot print on the planet. She enjoyed gardening and took great pride in growing as much of her own food as she could. She liked to eat kale, greens, garlic, tomatoes and even flowers from her garden.

Gardening with Alika

After retiring Sharon stayed busy writing. She had several trivia books for seniors published and was a regular writer for “A New Day” magazine. In addition to writing for A New Day she served on their advisory committee. Sharon’s last columns were published in the January/February 2013 edition. Sharon believed it was important for the brain to stay active. Sharon’s mental abilities never left her. A few weeks before her death she was still beating her daughter Dava at Scrabble.

At Rockhome Garden's in September 2012

September 2012

September 2010. Sharon in Lovington with Don, Sean, Alika and her dog Polly.

Sharon’s education included Occupational Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Illinois and Resident Activity Coordination Training at Youngstown State University.

She loved to bowl and said that when her health deteriorated to where she couldn’t enjoy bowling it was time to die.

She started many a conversation with “welllllll.” Sharon didn’t complain and had an incredibly positive attitude. Sharon failed to mention to her children that she had cancer. It was only over a game of scrabble when Dava asked her what had happened to her breast that she said, “welllll, I might have a little cancer.” Even when her health failed her and she had to depend on others (which she could not stand!) she did it with grace and a smile on her face. Sharon was always doing for others and did not like having others do for her.

Sharon and Addie

Sharon loved her children and being a mother and grandmother were the most important things in her life. She was devastated when her youngest daughter Darci died. Sharon always said she would never go through chemo but in the end she tried chemo not because she feared death but because she wanted to live to be there for Darci’s daughter Addie. Leaving Addie was the hardest thing for her. Sharon could talk about her own death without a tear but she could not talk about leaving Addie.

Sharon loved all her grandchildren. When Alika was born Don’s wife was in the army and was sent to Germany during Desert Storm. Sharon went to Utah and stayed with Don taking care of Alika for nine months.

Many of Sharon’s friends were surprised by her death, most were not aware that she was sick. Even the month before she died she did not admit to her friends that she was not well. More than one person expressed surprise saying “but she said she felt fine.” Wellll, she fibbed! Sharon didn’t like to complain so rather than admit she felt bad she told everyone she was fine.

Sharon wanted very much to die in Lovington in her home. Her grandson Shane made that possible. He spent the last two months of her life living with her at her home in Lovington. Sharon said that Shane was both an excellent cook and company.

Sharon is survived by Don and his children, Alika, David and Sean.

Dava and her children, Shane DeYoung, Kyle DeYoung and Alexis Bunyarattaphantu

Darci’s children, Kirk and Addie Patton.

She is also survived by her great grandchildren, Sydney Meeks, October, Ashtin, Dade, Gage and Kale DeYoung, a great great grandson, Jackson, her brother Pete, his wife Nancy and her nephews Stason and Brock Foster.

Along with her “welllll” Sharon always said “nothing last for ever” and “keep having fun.”

Sharon was loved by all her family, many friends, neighbors and her dogs Polly and Okie.

Sharon died at her home on January 17, 2013. A memorial service will be held in Lovington on Saturday March 23. McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington is in charge of the arrangements.

Please don’t send flowers, honor Sharon’s memory by planting a tree in the spring.