Lillian Joyce Foster

Our beloved Lillian entered glory on August 29, 2022, at approximately 4:30pm at McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado at age 86. She had been suffering from pancreatic cancer since early summer. Lillian chose to endure bravely with great dignity until her death with no cancer treatments. She was only in the hospital for 4 days and spent her final weeks with her family in the comfort of her own home, as she had always desired.

Lillian was born in Denver, Colorado, on May 28, 1936, to a loving family of six, descendants of the Colorado pioneers. They settled into life in Grand County, Colorado, where Lillian grew up surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Her childhood was wondrous and carefree where Lillian spent her summers on her family’s ranch, exploring rivers and hills, collecting flowers and observing wildlife. The deep cold winters meant building snow forts and ice skating on a pond behind their home in Hot Sulphur Springs. Her greatest treasure as a child was her family and she desired to be known as a grateful daughter for all the nurturing she received. Lillian adored her sweet mother Helen (Horn) Shiflet and hard-working, humble father Wilbern Webb Shiflet. She also loved her 2 sisters, Virginia and Agnes, and sole-surviving “baby brother” Charles and his family. She also adored her cousins and had many wonderful memories of their adventures together as children and teenagers.

Lillian had a special love for children. Lillian was a dedicated mother, caring home maker, and doting grandmother who raised four sons and nurtured six beloved grandchildren. She also loved her daughter-in-laws and their children and grandchildren as if they were her own. Lillian volunteered regularly in her church’s nursery program for many years. Poor and suffering children were of special concern to Lillian, and for 10 years she lovingly sponsored Patrick and Philip of Kenya, Africa, and Bethie of Haiti through Compassion International until her finances could no longer afford it. She also regularly supported cancer research at Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Lillian was a true patriot and loved her country. Her father served and survived the front lines in France during World War I, and she was deeply grateful for the cost many families pay for our freedoms. Every Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veteran’s Day was a chance for Lillian to fly the flag, listen to patriotic music, and honor our heroes, both the living and the fallen.

Lillian spent her long 24-year retirement from banking traveling to exciting places like Greece, England, Maui, and Florida. But her favorite travels were to many destinations in her beloved home state of Colorado, going to festivals and local events, camping in tents and cooking over open fires until well into her seventies. She was also a life-long artist, dabbling in many mediums, but had a special love for watercolor. She majored in Fine Arts at Colorado State College (now UNC), and over 70 years of passionate creation produced hundreds of works of art, some of which are now on display in Loveland businesses and private homes. She taught private watercolor lessons in her home, and passed her love of art onto her grandchildren,most of whom painted and sketched at grandma’s side from a very young age.

Lillian had fond memories of growing up in a small congregational church in Hot Sulphur Springs, listening to her parents sing in the choir, and participating in Christmas pageants every year. During a ladies Bible Study, when she was just a young mother in Breckenridge, Colorado, Lillian prayed and believed personally in Jesus Christ to be her Lord and Savior. She served her church in Fort Collins for decades, and every day time was spent reading Bible devotions and listening to Gospel teaching on the radio. Our family takes great comfort in knowing she was saved by grace and now abides eternally in Heaven where we will join her again soon. She would want anyone reading this to know that Jesus is waiting for you, too, to surrender and make Him Lord of your life. She wants to see you with her in glory!

To be known by Lillian was to be loved by Lillian. Her love was given unconditionally to everyone she met, whether it be the cashier at Wendy's or her many dear friends and family. Love was her native language, and she spoke it clearly every single day.

Lillian had 4 sons; Robin, Kevin, Erin, and Westin. None of them can imagine a better mother and friend, and we will hold her in our hearts until we hold her again in Heaven. You are finally home now, Mom ... and we will always love you.

Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Compassion International or Saint Jude Children’s Hospital in Lillian's honor.

A Life Well Loved will be held Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at High Plains Condominiums Clubhouse, 1949 Grays Peak Drive, Loveland, CO 80538. This is an "open house" so drop in any time, but a short program (with open mic) will occur at 1:45 and 2:45pm

Light Refreshments will be served.