Lelia Coyle Branch Foster, formerly of Morrow, Louisiana, and recently of Alexandria, Louisiana, passed away at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria on June 23, 2016, less than a month shy of her ninety-sixth birthday.

She was a former public library director in Concordia and Pointe Coupée Parishes during World War II and a school librarian and high school English teacher for nearly thirty years at Morrow High School. She was always a wonderful student and graduated third in her class at Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI; now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1941. She received her B.S. in Library Science from LSU in 1942.

Lelia loved to paint, draw, read, and write entries in her many diaries. She greatly enjoyed researching family history and growing African violets. She could sew, cook, and grow great gardens. She loved to travel and made many trips, first with her husband and daughters, and later with sisters-in-law, beloved friends, and children and grandchildren. She journeyed west to many National Parks and east to Disney World with her daughter Lelia Ruth and family, and she enjoyed touring wherever her daughter Mary Louise happened to be with her military husband. In later years, she participated in water aerobics at LSUA for as long as she could. Lelia delighted in visits with friends and family and played a good game of Chinese checkers almost up until her death. She also never met a piece of fried catfish that she didn't like.

She was a member of the Loyalty Chapter of the DAR as well as a past member of the Eastern Star and the Kappa Delta Sorority. She was also a devoted Church member throughout her life.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. John Sidney Branch and Lelia Mason Coyle Branch; her husband, Collins Pickett Foster; her brothers, John Sidney Branch, Jr., and Dr. Leroy Kilpatrick Branch; her half-sisters, Alice Branch Williams, Lily Branch Cuenod, and Sidney Branch Gaulden; her infant grandson, Donald Charles Slipman; and many beloved relatives and friends.

She is survived by her two daughters, Dr. Lelia Ruth Foster Angel Slipman (husband Ron) and Mary Louise Foster-Galasso (husband Gary); her granddaughter, Laura Teresa Lavergne (husband Brandon); her grandsons, Dr. Ronald Andrew Slipman, Brian Edward Slipman, and Collins Richard Galasso; as well as numerous relatives and friends. Perhaps her greatest legacy is the many students she taught throughout the years at Morrow High School, all of whom she remembered fondly.

The family thanks Dr. Liu and her other physicians, as well as the many nurses and other staff members at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital for her care in her final days. Special thanks are extended to Amian Angels Home Care and the many caregivers from the agency who have assisted her in recent years. Extra special thanks are given to caregivers Yazmin, Elizabeth, and LaSonya, all of whom worked tirelessly to ensure that she was comfortable and never alone.

Arrangements will be under the supervision of Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home in Bunkie, Louisiana, with a wake on Saturday, June 25, at the funeral home from 5 pm to 9 pm. The funeral home will reopen for viewing on Sunday, June 26, at 12 Noon, with the funeral to follow at 2 pm at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Bayou Rouge Baptist Church in Evergreen, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to one of the following churches: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Innis), Big Cane Baptist Church (Big Cane), Bayou Rouge Baptist Church (Evergreen), or First United Methodist Church of Alexandria.