James Douglas "Doug" Foster, 71 of Edinburg, passed away, surrounded by his family, on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Springfield Memorial Hospital.

He was born on January 11, 1953, in Tuscola, the son of James and Mary (Morford) Foster.  He married Debra R. Klay on June 21, 1975, in Arthur.

Doug graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1978 with a degree in health education and P.E.  He started teaching at the Assumption High School where he also coached football.  In the early 80's he was part of the coaching staff at Pana High School.  In the 90's Doug earned his master's degree and served at the Principal of the Cuba High School starting in 1992.  He continued his education by obtaining his superintendent certificate and became the Superintendent of the Edinburg School District in 1999 and went on to become the Superintendent of the Woodland School District where he retired in 2010.

He was a long-time member of the Assumption Bass Club and the NRA.  He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and especially enjoyed the career of Stan Musial.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and blues music.  In the last several years he enjoyed spending time reading the bible and taking part in a weekly bible study.  He also spent time in his retirement years volunteering as a "Red Coat" at Springfield Memorial Hospital.  Football was a lifelong passion in Doug's life, and he enjoyed traveling around Central Illinois with his "Game of the Week Group" to watch high school football games.

He is survived by his wife: Debbie Foster of Edinburg; daughters: Coartney Foster and Mary Kathleen Foster both of Auburn; siblings: Jamie Wince (Jim) of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and Dyke Foster (Cheryl) of Pana; uncle: George Morford of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents; and beloved chocolate lab: Abigail.

A visitation for Doug will be held from 5:00p.m. until 7:00p.m. on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at McClure Funeral Home in Taylorville.

Visitation will also be held from 11 to 1 p.m., Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at the Shrader Funeral Home, 431 South Vine Street, Arthur, IL

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Arthur Cemetery, Arthur, IL.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Tunnels to Towers.

McClure Funeral Home and Shrader Funeral Home are assisting the family.