Carson Leon Foster passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 78.

Carson was born on November 13, 1946, at the Nix Hospital in San Antonio to Carson Lamar Foster and Elizabeth Ivine (Billingsley) Foster. Carson's family roots ran deep in Atascosa County. He was a descendant of a pioneer family that settled in the Verdi area east of Pleasanton, Texas. His childhood was spent on the family farm and ranch in Verdi, a place that shaped his lifelong service to the land.

Carson began his education at the country school in Verdi and then continued his public education in Pleasanton. Even in his youth Carson was well-rounded, participating in Little League baseball, playing first-chair trumpet in the marching band, and actively engaging in FFA. After graduating from Pleasanton High School in 1964, he attended San Antonio College then earned his degree in business administration from Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos in 1968.

Starting in 1967, Carson began the fulfilling chapter of family life when he married and welcomed three children: Amy Linda in 1969, Amanda Sue in 1971, and Carson Wayne in 1973. Following college, he joined the U.S. Navy and was sent to the naval aviation training command at Pensacola, Florida. After finishing first in his class, he was assigned to duties at NAS Corpus Christi, NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, and NAS Jacksonville, Florida. Carson was assigned to Squadron VP56, serving as a navigator on P-3 patrol aircraft covering the North Atlantic, and was on two deployments to NAS Keflavik, Iceland. He concluded his Navy service in 1973, having attained the rank of Lieutenant JG.

Returning with his family to Pleasanton after his military service, Carson joined his father on the family farm in Verdi. He was a true innovator, always seeking better ways to work the land. He became the first in Atascosa County to utilize a Vermeer round hay baler and even applied his ingenuity to inventing his own mechanical enhancements for his equipment. His farming career involved cultivating peanuts, corn, cotton, milo/sorghum, peas, guar, oats, and wheat. He also raised cattle as a rancher.

As his children grew, Carson enthusiastically coached Little League baseball and spent many weekends golfing or water skiing with his family. Fall harvests were always followed by enjoyable winter snow skiing trips with close family friends. His dedication to his community extended to serving on the Pleasanton ISD School Board from 1985 to 1993.

In later years, as his son joined him in the family business on the farm, Carson found more time to enjoy other passions such as traveling across Texas for auctions, taking hunting and fishing trips, and spending many hours on the golf course with his friends. Though he never truly retired – like most old farmers – his most cherished role became that of "Big Dad" to his grandchildren. He proudly supported all five of his grandchildren in their academic pursuits and guided and mentored them in their agricultural endeavors throughout high school and college. He valued academic excellence and took immense pride in all of his children and grandchildren pursuing post-secondary degrees in agriculture, education, or business. As the leader of the family, he instilled the importance of hard work and dedication both in academics and on the farm.

Later in life, even after his grandsons became involved in the family business, Carson continued to take part in the farm operations. During peanut and cotton harvests, he could be found running the combine or module builder from dawn till dark, and during hay season he was always the first to volunteer to stack hay or to operate the baler, cutter, or rake. But one of his favorite farm activities always remained running the bulldozer to clear brush, move dirt, or dig tanks. As the family business grew, he continued to offer his experienced "consultation" from the driver's seat of the Kawasaki Mule, providing guidance on the new turfgrass fields and making sure the area around the shop and farm equipment maintained a particular level of tidiness. Carson was always an integral part of Foster Farms, ensuring the family legacy would continue through future generations.

Carson is survived by his daughter, Amy Foster of Minneapolis, MN; daughter, Amanda Foster Vyvlecka and husband Dennis of Jourdanton; son, Wayne Foster and wife Heather of Pleasanton; grandchildren, Brooke Vyvlecka Kaiser and husband Payton, Blake Foster and fiancée Laney Korus, Claire Vyvlecka, Reed Foster, and Luke Vyvlecka; brother, Kevin Foster and wife Charlotte of Floresville; numerous nieces and nephews; and former wife, mother of his children, and lifelong friend, Louise Austin Foster.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lamar and Beth Foster; sister, Annette Foster Gipson; sister, Sue Foster Dietrich; brother-in-law, Robert Gipson; brother-in-law, Jerry Dietrich; and nephew, Paul Gipson.

Friends and family are invited to pay their respects during the visitation at Hurley Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A celebration of Carson's life will be held at Hurley Funeral Home on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10:00 AM. After the service, the family will be holding a private burial, with a public reception to follow at the Pleasanton Country Club.

Those wishing to share their memories and condolences with the family may do so online at www.hurleyfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Carson's memory to the Verdi Community Center (℅ Mary Keith, 3807 FM 1784, Pleasanton, TX 78064) or the PHS Golf "Tee It Up" Booster Club (℅ Lynnette Thornton, Sec., 6500 East FM 476, Pleasanton, TX 78064), causes that reflected his deep connection to his community and his love for the golf course.