Agnes Midkiff Foster Hunter, 91, of Hartford died Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at the Ohio County Hospital. She was born in a log house on the Baker Farm near Sunnydale, on July 19, 1921, to the late Rush Midkiff and Thelma Clark Midkiff.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred P. Foster; brothers, William Henry and Kenneth Clark; sister, Inez; nephew, Leonard Carroll Midkiff,II, and nieces Carole Ann Kinder and Margaret Agnes Midkiff.
In 1930, her family moved to Midkiff Hill where she lived until she was 91, enjoying a view toward Sunnydale and beyond. She and her brothers walked almost two miles to a two-room school in Sunnydale until Dundee High School opened in the early ʻ30s. She was an excellent student, graduating high school at 16. The first of her family to graduate from college, when she received a BS in Home Economics from Western College in 1942. She returned home to teach at Dundee until the school closed due to consolidation in 1956.
Beginning her teaching career with a cousin of the same last name, she was always referred to as “Miss Agnes” in the Dundee community. In addition to teaching a four year home economics program, Miss Agnes organized a school lunch program and served as the lunch room supervisor, many years was a class sponsor, and taught two adult classes each year to enrich the lives of the women in the community. In 1944, the Dundee Chapter of Future Homemakers of America was the first chartered in the state. Miss Agnes thrived in the role of FHA adviser and she and her students participated in district, state, and national meetings and programs. She was always proud that two of her students wrote the Ky. FHA song. She helped organize the Dundee Alumni Association and for years compiled the alumni records and organized yearly reunions. Although the last class graduated in 1958, this group still meets to renew friendships and share memories.
She taught at Hartford High from 1956 until 1963. While there, she was the advisor to a large, active FHA Chapter and also sponsored the National Honor Society. After receiving her MS in Home Economics Education from the University of Kentucky in 1958, she supervised student teachers from Western College. Because of her many contributions to the organization, she was made an honorary member of Kentucky FHA in 1959. She also served as president of the Kentucky Association of Home Economics Teachers in 1961-62 and as vice president of the Kentucky Vocational Association.
After 21 years of teaching in Ohio County, she joined the Ky. State Department of Education as an area supervisor in home economics and later became State FHA Adviser. During her 20 years in this capacity she traveled to every county in the state. She always took great pride in the FHA members who excelled in high school and retuned to teach in home economics programs and advise FHA Chapters. At her retirement, she was the last individual in Kentucky who had worked continuously with the Future Homemakers of America since it began in 1944.
She served on the National FHA Board of Directors from 1969-1972, and chaired this group her last year. She received the National Distinguished Award for Outstanding service to the organization at the 1978 National FHA Meeting in Miami Beach, Fl.
Although she retired in 1983, after working over 40 years in home economics education on the local and state level, she continued to attend district, state, and national meetings and served on numerous committees in a volunteer capacity. In 1996, she was awarded National Honorary Membership by the Future Homemakers of America. This award is reserved for adults who have shown outstanding support for FHA at the National Level. At this time, Mrs. Foster had attended 51 Ky. Annual FHA State Meetings and 22 National FHA Meetings.
She has been an active member of the American Home Economics Association and KHEA since 1942, the American Vocational Association and KVA and other professional organizations. She is listed in Kentucky Lives (1966) and Outstanding Educators in America (1973-74) and (1977-78). She was presented alumni distinguished service awards from both the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University for her contributions in Education. She was recognized as a Kentucky Colonel for her service to the citizens of the Commonwealth.
She was married to her high school sweetheart Fred P. Foster in 1942. In her summer school breaks during WWII, she traveled by train to San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago to meet Fred when his ship was in port. He served in the South Pacific with the US Navy and saw the raising of the flag over Iwo Jima. They both enjoyed traveling and visited most of the states. One of their best retirement adventures was riding the TransCanadian Railroad and staying in the historic railroad lodges along the way.
Family was important to Agnes and Midkiff Hill was the family gathering spot not only for her brothers and sister and their children and grandchildren but also for the extended families of her parents. She had fond memories of the happy gatherings at her home of the 65 Midkiff first cousins and their spouses. She worked hard throughout her life to bring her family together to celebrate the happy times in life and not just the sad times.
Fred and Agnes shared a home with her parents for much of their lives. Her parents provided much love and support during her working years and during their later years, she provided the needed support for her parents to live on Midkiff Hill until their passings. She was a loving wife, daughter, sister and aunt. She enjoyed working in the yard and vegetable garden. Feeding and watching the hundreds of birds was a major joy of hers as she aged. She learned to cook, not only in the classroom, but also from her mother who had a real gift for cooking and entertaining family and friends. Guests could always look forward to warm hospitality and good food from their kitchen. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her siblings and their children.
Aunt Agnes could always be counted on to suggest “the right way to behave and act” but gave unconditional love and support to family members. She was the “Grandma-Aunt” to her younger brotherʼs and sisterʼs children. She and Fred treasured their roles as substitute grandparents in sister Lindaʼs childrenʼs weddings. She was quick to share the academic and professional successes of her nieces and nephews and loved her role as Aunt, Great Aunt, and Great-great Aunt.
Other special times included many years of summer family beach trips and her fifteen Februaries spent at the King and Prince Hotel on St Simons Island, Ga. Many different family members joined her through the years and shared these happy winter breaks.
A member of the Dundee United Methodist Church for over 70 years, she served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for over 10 years and represented her church at Annual Conferences. She is Past Matron of the Dundee Order of the Eastern Star and Past President of the Pi Chapter of ADK.
Survivors include her brother, L.C. Midkiff of Dundee; sister, Linda Cloaninger and husband Charlie of Macon, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Betty Midkiff of Versailles, Eleanore Foster of Plantation, Fla., and Virginia Hammett of Rolla, Mo. Nieces and nephews: William Midkiff, Inez Hall, David Midkiff, Clark Midkiff, Sam Midkiff (Laura), Scott Midkiff (Sofia), Angela Drayton (Ralph), Fred Midkiff (Toni), Rush Midkiff (Jennifer), Edward Cloaninger (Debbie), Elizabeth Putnam (Joe), Dennis Hammett, Kathy Morton (David), Nancy Foster (Kristy), Mark Foster (Meredith) and many great- and great-great nieces and nephews.
During her mid-eighties, she and Lawrence (Tooter) Hunter were married for three years until his death. “Tooter” learned to enjoy travel that did not involve a sporting event and and she developed a keener appreciation of UK basketball. They shared the commonality of being life-long Democrats. She is survived by his children Susan Ganote (Doug), and Critt Hunter and their children and grandchildren.
The extended family thank the local family members for their kind love and devoted care. Appreciation is also expressed to the staff of Dogwood and to others who assisted in home care.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dundee United Methodist Church. Burial will be at the Sunnydale Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Miller-Schapmire Home in Hartford, and after 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dundee United Methodist Church or The Agnes Foster Scholarship Fund, FCCLA, 2110, CPT 500 Mero St., Frankfort, Ky. 40601.