Lela Frances "Fran" Foster

Lela Frances “Fran” Foster, age 89 of Mattoon, IL, peacefully passed away, Sunday, June 4, 2023, at her residence with her family by her side. A funeral service in her honor will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938; Reverend Ron Dickinson will officiate. A committal service will immediately follow at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Mattoon, IL. The visitation will be held the same day at 9:00 AM until the time of service at the funeral home. Fran was born on June 14, 1933, to the late Marion Leland and Edna Pauline (Fetters) Logan. She married Paul E. Strader but later divorced; they shared three children. Fran is survived by two daughters Paula J. Gordon of Mattoon, IL, Susan L. Strader of Mattoon, IL; one son, Mitchell “Mitch” L. Strader and wife Pam of Oakland, IL; four grandchildren: Chad Gordon and wife Kelly of Lockport, IL, Matthew Gordon and wife Terri of Casey, IL, Ted Canada and wife Kelli of Oakland, IL, Mark Williams of Lakeland, FL; six great-grandchildren: Natalie Shull and husband Tanner of Hidalgo, IL, Carter Gordon and wife Jenna of Casey, IL, Aubrey and Lily Gordon of Lockport, Nick and Jace Canada of Oakland, IL; one great-grandchild, Owen Shull of Hidalgo, IL with two more on the way; one sister, Cathern Strader of Mattoon, IL. She is preceded in death by two brothers, Kenny and Wayne Logan. Fran began her adult career working as a salesperson for Beeline Fashions. She traveled throughout Illinois in her tiny Volkswagen Bug, hosting clothing parties in numerous homes. She later moved from selling clothing to buying and selling antiques. The new career venture began with a basement full of antiques, eventually relocating to Ye Ole Cellar shop, located at 600 Broadway Avenue in Mattoon, IL. She was known for her ability to find the perfect antiques for customers and other dealers. She left the antiquing business to begin her real estate career. The Gover Agency was where her love for selling houses began. After many successful years with The Gover Agency, she became a cofounder of an all-female realty office named Lakeland Realty and finished her realty career in Mattoon, IL with Century 21. After she moved to Shelbyville, IL, she sold for Gaddis Realty. Fran had a knack for connecting with her prospective clients which led to her success in finding their ideal homes and forming lifelong friendships. Fran will be most remembered for building a barn on Hickory Hill Road in rural Mattoon and calling it Fran’s Weed Barn. The barn allowed her to continue her love of antiques and market them to happy buyers. The weed arrangements she created to enhance the beauty of antiques soon became extremely popular. Her daughter, Paula, soon joined her as her partner. Together they worked to develop a dried flower wholesale business and a local spot for devoted customers to escape for a day. After the business closed, it was nearly impossible for Fran to go anywhere in public without seeing her old customers who loved to reminisce about their love for Fran’s Weed Barn. The Picket Fence in Mattoon, IL and then The Emporium in Shelbyville, IL allowed Fran and Paula to continue to dabble in their love for weed and everlasting arrangements. Even though the business closed many years ago, the bond between Fran and Paula remained immeasurable. Fran’s love for art was shared with her family and friends. She was a self-taught watercolor artist, and her paintings will be treasured for years to come. Another of her passions was creating journals that she lovingly called her “junk journals”. Each journal contained a tiny piece of her soul and told a magnificent story. These journals will become her legacy to be enjoyed by her children forever. Everyone has a happy place and Fran’s was in Haines City, FL. She absolutely loved to sit in her favorite window either painting or napping on the couch as the warm breeze washed over her. She created a second family of friends she loved dearly. Playing cards and visiting her many friends on her front patio were the highlights of her day. She looked forward to her winters in Florida and hated to come back to Illinois in the early spring. Fran did not ask for much. She was happiest when she had her family close by. Her smile and love were infectious to all who knew her. Throughout her battle with pancreatic cancer since 2018, she remained positive and was always ready with a smile or kind word. She will be remembered for her fierce loyalty to the family and ability to instill positivity into every situation. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for Fran’s hospice team, especially nurse Cait Marlow. Her calm guidance steered the family through the end-of-life journey. Hospice chaplain, Joy Starwalt also exuded a calming presence for the entire family. Fran will forever be her family’s hero. Memorials in her honor may be given to Hospice House, 1004 Health Center Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome for the full obituary.

Tributes

Lela Frances "Fran" Foster

June 14, 1933 - June 4, 2023