Merle Dean Foster, age 94, born on May 15, 1930, in Macon, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.  Private graveside services will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Harmony Baptist Church in Auxvasse, Missouri.

Merle is the son of Benjamin Rexford Foster and Mary Elizabeth Watson, who preceded him in death.  On March 25, 1950, he was married to Dorothy Jean Kienast, who survives.

After their marriage they moved Leadville, CO where Merle worked at the Climax Mine.  In 1951 they moved to Mexico, MO where he worked at A. P. Green.  After Greens he worked at A. B Chance as an Engineer in Centralia, MO, for 17 years.  In 1971, Merle and good friend Ray Potter purchased a tire shop and operated as M & R Tire Center in Mexico, MO.  Merle and his wife Dorothy also operated Foster's Tire and Muffler until they retired in 2010.

Merle was an avid musician and played the trumpet in a jazz band in High school.  While living in Thompson, MO, he was very involved in the Baptist Church, was a music leader at Harmony Baptist church and joined the Missouri Music Men Baptist choir.  The group toured all over the world.  The trip he talked about the most was one to Jordon.  Merle belonged to a model air plane club where he built and operated radio controlled aircraft.  He was also an officer and member of a ham radio club.  Merle was also involved with the Emergency Weather Management Response team reporting as a storm tracker.

Merle was a member of the Elks and he and his wife were active volunteers at the Laura Miller George Help Center.  He is survived by his wife of almost 75 years, Dorothy (Kienast) Foster and children:  Jeannine (Foster) Stathem, grand children Eric (Lori) Stathem, great grand children Ivy and Drew, great great grand children Waylon and Hank, Marcy (James) Bonuchi, great grand child Gabby, Keri Stathem (Justin Wyatt) great grand child Kasin.  Kyle (Foster) Cone, grand child Brad (Ada) Cone, Alisha (Michael) Yahl, great grand children Grayson and Asher.  Arlene (Steve) Damron, grand children Sara Littrell, great grand children Grayson, Zach (great, great grandson Carson) and Brandon Whittaker; grand child Mathew (Lara) Brunk, great grand children Olivia and Tyler; grand child Mary Elizabeth (Brian) Foreman, great grand children Magen, Hayden, and Cade; Mark Brunk, great grand children Joshua and Lakelyn; Step grand children Michael (Nicole) Damron, great grand child Parker; grand child William (Jessie) Damron, great grand children Arianna, Rhia, and Donovan; grand child Gregory (Kaitlin) Damron, great grand children James and Jonathan.