Scrapbook-Wahkiakum County Historical Society Museum, Cathlamet, WA
Early Wahkiakum County Publication				

  In Memoriam

  The death of Mrs. H. A. Foster, which occurred last Friday, was a 
great shock to this little community.  She had not been in good health 
for a number of years, but still able to be about, and for a woman of 
seventy years, was quite active in social as well as her household 
work.  
  Last Friday evening in company with Mrs. Geo. O. Bailey, she passed 
the evening with Mrs. Wm. M. Colwell, and about 9:30 the ladies started 
for their homes.  The weather was quite stormy, and they had not gone 
far when Mrs. Foster complained of feeling ill, and it required the 
utmost assistance of Mrs. Bailey to get to C. L. Silverman's residence, 
where they stopped and rested and the family furnished Mrs. Foster with 
such restoratives as they had, and after a rest Mrs. Foster seemed very 
much better and was anxious to continue her walk home.  As they were
leaving Mr. Silverman's home Judge McIntyre came along with a lantern 
and he walked along ahead of the ladies to light the walk with his 
light.  They had not gone half the distance, when Mrs. Foster was taken 
with a fit of coughing.  She asked Judge McIntyre to go for her son 
Willey who was at home.  He did so and the two returned to the ladies 
as soon as they could.  In the interim Mrs. Bailey had assisted Mrs. 
Foster along the walk until they were nearly to the crossing, so when 
Willey arrived he picked his mother up and carried her into Mrs. 
Bailey's house, where she soon died.
  It is thought that her death was due to heart trouble. The funeral 
took place Tuesday morning from her residence and w3as under the charge 
of Ladies of the Maccabees, of which organization Mrs. Foster was an 
honored charter member, she having been chaplain of Skamokawa Hive]
ever since its organization.  The funeral was attended by a great many 
people.  Rev. McWatters made some very appropriate remarks and offered 
prayer and the choir sang several hymns.  The beautiful burial service 
of the Lady Maccabees was rendered at the house and concluded at the 
grave.  There was a large number of beautiful floral pieces.
 Hester A. Foster was born in Clarenceville, Province, Quebec, Canada, 
June 22nd, 1931, which made her 70 years, 4 months and 24 days old at 
the time of her death. She made her home at Ypsilanti, Michigan, for 
many years, but came to this coast in 1891 and lived in Portland a 
year.  She and her son, Willey, came to Skamokawa in July, 1892.
  Three children were born to her, they are Charles E. Foster, of 
Ypsilanti, Mich., Mrs. Ella M. Young, of New York City, and Willey S. 
Foster, of this place.


Card of thanks--to the many friends who assisted me in my hour of 
bereavement through the death of my beloved mother, and especially to 
Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Newell, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Marshall, Mrs. Geo. O
Bailey, and the Ladies and Knights of the Macabees, I desire to return 
my heartfelt thanks.  --Willey S. Foster


FOSTER, Hester A. Salls
Fern Hill Cemetery-Skamokawa, Wa.
22 Jun 1831-15 Nov 1901
(As transcribed by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society 2005 from 
original newspaper collection.)