Joan Foster Yost

May 23, 1941 - January 8, 2024

MARBLE FALLS, TEXAS — Joan was born in Mississippi in 1941 to Eldred and Lillian Foster but grew up in Marble Falls, Texas. Her skills as a pianist were employed at First Baptist Church, where her father, a school principal, was the adult Sunday School teacher for many decades.

Her mother owned the only florist shop in town and prepared arrangements for every holiday, wedding, funeral and event in the area, including those at LBJ’S nearby ranch. Joan used the skills she learned from her mom to beautify every space she occupied throughout her life. A brilliant student, Joan graduated from Mary Hardin-baylor College. In later years, she earned a Masters’ degree at SDSU. Her first assignments as an English teacher were in Dickinson, TX, then in Tempe, AZ, but her marriage to a merchant marine brought her to San Diego. The marriage didn’t last, but Joan’s career as a teacher at Pacific Beach Junior High and then Mission Bay High School lasted over forty years. This bright, beautiful, always-fashionably-attired blond kept her students engaged and conforming to her very high standards. She loved her students and made every effort to prepare them to succeed, even calling one student every morning at 5:00am to make sure she would be on the bus on time. In 1986, Joan was selected as High School Teacher of the Year in the San Diego Unified School District.

When she first came to Pacific Beach in the 1960’s, Joan rented a small house not far from the beach. Some years later, she met the artist who lived across the street after he heroically pulled a neighbor out of a burning garage. They bonded and during

Christmas break in 1974, she married Dennis Yost. By then she had bought the house, which became filled with his large, colorful impressionistic paintings and her artful flower arrangements. Joan was a voracious reader. She doted on her beloved dachsunds Gus and Brunhilde, then Holle and finally Sofie. Joan and friends were season ticket holders at The Old Globe, rarely missing any theatrical performances in San Diego. She introduced her students to cultural experiences of many kinds. Joan initiated annual block parties and frequent dinners out to keep her beloved neighbors connected. She unwound each day walking with neighbors to the beach—or to Baskin and Robbins for pralines and cream ice cream! In later years, she attended weekly TOPS or Weight Watchers meetings. At Christ Lutheran Church she participated in the Book Group, prepared meals for homeless programs, knitted prayer shawls, and volunteered generously. Throughout the years Joan called her mother every day, arranged travel with relatives and friends, sent cards to everyone celebrating any occasion, and maintained countless friendships. She lived life exuberantly!

In 2017, Denny and Joan both experienced health issues and moved to assisted living in Marble Falls near family. She played bridge weekly with her mother at the local senior center until Lillian died at the age of 101. Joan died peacefully at home at the age of 82 with Denny and her sisterin-law Carmen at her side. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Ellie Foster. She is survived by her husband Denny Yost, brother Billy Foster and his wife Carmen and their sons Shane and Sean, sister-inlaw Nancy Foster, niece Kristin, nephew Chad, and many cousins. A service was held in Marble Falls, Texas on January 27, 2024. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo to dignitymemorial.com/ Joan Yost, and keep your own home filled with flowers!