Leroy Gene Foust entered this world early one morning on December 12, 1954 to Maxine Fern (Green) and Leland Gene "Bud" Foust at Vinita, OK. He was one of the few babies of the time to have five living grandmothers and great-grandmothers to help raise him from infancy. He accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age and rededicated his life to Christ as an adult.

Gene attended Welch Public Schools until he was a junior. During his teenage years he was lead singer and played the drums as part of a four member band that played at local teen hops, roadhouses, and bars under a special permit with adult supervision in northeastern Oklahoma. He was an Eagle Scout by the time his parents moved the family to Thomas. He was the first teen from Thomas to sing with both the state and national FFA chorus. He was an FFA Star Farmer.

He and Cindy met in high school and married when she graduated from college. They have two delightful children, Christy Lynn and Roy Gene and the best grandkiddos in the world: Austin Gene Foust, Caleb Patrick Foust-Treece, Alyssa Carmel Foust, and Aiden Dean Foust.

Gene graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University at the same time his daughter Christy and his daughter-in-law, Adina did. He liked self-employment and learned to weld under the tutelage of Ken Hunter. He had his own welding business along with his dad for several years and then on his own after that. He worked at a crisis center for years but he considered his best work was as a CLEET certified police officer working to protect and serve students and faculty at SWOSU. Over the years he also became a proficient gunsmith and holds CLEET certifications as a sniper, range master, and assisted other policemen with their shooting proficiency. During his retirement he owned and operated a sporting goods business and was a reserve officer for Custer County Sheriff's Department and SWOSU.

Next to his love for God and his family he was an avid hunter as long as he was physically able. He always said his time spent outdoors watching wildlife and close to nature God created brought him closer to the Lord. As recently as two weeks ago he had a successful safari hunt in southwest Texas. He learned to trap wild game at an early age of 10. His dad taught him to shoot at the age of 12 and hunted with him. Hunting was a shared love for both of them. He was a member of the Bethany Brethren in Christ Church and the First Christian Church. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Thomas Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his great grandparents and babysitters Radford and Meda Stanley, Charles and Mamie Culver, Pauline Foust, and his grandmother Nova Green, and grandparents Leroy and Nadine Foust; and his father.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy, children and their spouses Christy and Lance, Roy and Adina, his mother Maxine, his sister Cheryl, his brother Brad, many nieces and nephews, and many dear friends including Smith and Wesson.

In his memory please make your donations to the First Christian Church, the Weatherford or Regional Food Bank, or a charity of your choice.