Ree Foster Frye

After a remarkable and inspiring 89 years, Geneva Ree Templeman/Foster/Frye passed away on September 23, 2008. Courage and independence were the hallmarks of her long life. When at age 39 a tragic train accident took her husband Orland Foster, Geneva refused self-pity. Instead, she became the family’s bread-winner and raised four girls and two boys in a home marked by humor, humility and joy. As a result, many decades later her children share a unique and loving bond with each other and deep admiration for their mother. Born June 2, 1919 in Litchfield, Kentucky to Matthew and Cova Templeman, Geneva’s family moved to Urbana, Illinois for her high school years. There she met and married Orland in 1940. The first of six children came in 1942. The family moved to Chicago, Il in 1949, Grayslake, Il in 1952, and Zion, IL in 1953. They moved to El Paso, TX in 1962 where she remained for the rest of her life. Geneva’s greatest pleasure was her family. No one laughed louder at her offspring’s antics – especially the good-natured teasing – than Geneva. It is perhaps this precious laugh we will miss most at family gatherings. Her strength and wisdom have been an inspiration to the entire family. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will seek her example as a path to follow. Geneva is survived by her dear sister Aileen Holstlaw of Olney, Illinois, and six children: Sandra Karnatz of Mt. Prospect, Ill; Tom Foster of Prescott, AZ, Janice Benavidez of Murrieta, CA, and Linda Brown, Robert Foster and Deborah Foster of El Paso, TX.. She was blessed with 16 adoring grandchildren: Cheryl, Suzanne, Kim, Kari, Randall, Chris, Aaron, Kristi, Orland, Wendy, Michael, Shawn, Ryan, Michelle, Charlie, and Kimberly. She was also loved by 14 great grandchildren: Taylor, Lexi, Riley, Lukas, Sarah, Joseph, Cooper, Beckett, Leo, Brooke, Kayla, Drew, Samuel and Kerrigan. A celebration of her life memorial service will be held at 3 PM, Saturday, October 4, 2008 at Sunset Funeral Home-Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass, El Paso, Texas. In lieu of flowers donations are being joyfully accepted to: Maria A. Pena Scholarship El Paso Community College P.O. Box 20500, El Paso Texas 79998 and Pulmonary Hypertension Association, PHA at 801 Roder Road, suite 400, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net