Arnita Kay "Nita" Jones Foster, 71, passed away on October 15, 2025. She was born on November 18, 1953, in Huntsville, Texas to the late Sergeant Major Wallace Jones, U.S. Army, and Clennie Augusta "Pat" Kelly. Nita spent a number of years in Germany as a child, and often recounted fond memories of her family's time overseas. In 1972, she graduated from McCluer High School in Florissant, MO.

Nita was known as "Skeeter" to her sister, "Nanny" to her grandbaby, and "Friend" to so many. She was feisty, stubborn, and fiercely loyal to those whom she loved, always taking the time to make us feel seen. Nita met the love of her life, Marvin, through her ex-mother-in-law, and relished in the irony of that statement. Together, they spent the last 45 years laughing heartily, loving endlessly, and finding a simple peace within each other that cannot be replaced. The memories they made together range from quiet moments at home to humorous antics that always elicited a sense of disbelief upon their retellings (such as the time they went on a late-night date to see the movie Dr. Zhivago and came out to an unexpected ice storm that froze the car doors shut, causing them to crawl through the back window of Marvin's Dodge Ram Charger, all while in fancy, warm weather formalwear).

Though her family called her a picky eater (and she would adamantly disagree with that sentiment), food was Nita's love language, true to her Southern heart. Cooking and baking for her family always brought her great joy. She was honored to know that the only cookies one of her granddaughter's classmates would ever eat were her made-with-love Snickerdoodles. The Food Network was a familiar soundtrack at home, and Nita could often be found taking notes from various cooking shows, especially from her favorite chefs, Paula Deen and Ree Drummond. We will miss her cookies, brownies, biscuits n' gravy breakfasts, chicken pot pies, and the memories made in the kitchen together.

Nita also had a love of literature, once reading Gone with the Wind in a single day. She was an avid Scrabble player, and was proud to have earned a 3rd place medal in the 2018 Intermediate Scrabble-thon competition through the Escondido Public Library in California. She enjoyed many evenings playing cards and board games with her family, where Rummy, Crazy 8's, Oh Hell, and Cribbage became anticipated parts of the dinner routine. Her favorite games were the ones where the scores were close, and she would edge out her favorite son-in-law for a win in the end.

While her career did not define her, Nita was a hard-worker and excelled in whatever she set out to accomplish. In 1990, Nita's career with Van Camp Seafood, Co. (Chicken of the Sea) moved her and her husband from St. Louis, MO to San Diego, CA, where they had their only child and lived for over 30 years. After leaving Chicken of the Sea, Nita worked a variety of places, including her daughter's elementary school for a time, but ultimately retired in 2017 from HME in San Diego. Throughout her career, Nita made some life-long friendships that she cherished deeply.

Along with being a thoughtful friend, Nita had a gift for finding laughter in life's surprises—including her own. When the unexpected blessing of her long-awaited pregnancy was discovered (seven months in!), the family joke quickly took shape: her husband, who at the time worked at a glove making—read: condom-making—factory, was said to have been "promptly fired from the testing line". Nita adored her wee girl and was immensely proud of the woman her daughter grew to be.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nita spent many years as a Girl Scout Troop Leader in San Diego, CA, leading her girls on many outings to help them become the kind, caring, successful adults they are today ("Good Meeting, Girls!"). As the proud granddaughter of an Irish immigrant, Nita played a key role in the Irish Dance careers of her daughter and husband for many years through the Rose Academy of Irish Dance. She was the perfect "Feis Mom" and her family's biggest supporter. She loved the friends and community she found through the endless dance practices, lively shows and ceilis, nationwide feisanna, and yearly St. Patrick's Day chaos she and her family happily participated in.

Nita had a giving spirit. She had a way with people that would quickly put them at ease around her, and she was often labeled as "such a sweet lady". For her "Double-Nickle" (55th) birthday, Nita celebrated by collecting donations for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and continued to donate to various charities throughout the years.

In 2020, Nita was happily promoted to "Nanny". She moved to Virginia and spent the rest of her life wrapped around her grandbaby's finger. She absolutely beamed with love and pride for her Lilly, and felt blessed to spend nearly every day of Lilly's first 5 years of life together. Nanny most loved to watch her granddaughter dance, hear her sing silly songs, and generally enjoy life as a child. Lilly was her biggest pride and joy. Shortly before her passing, Nita wrote a love letter to her friends and family, which we will share here: "Please make this a celebration of my life and loves. Remember the happy times and do not mourn my body. I will always be with you in your mind and heart. I promise to be your guardian angel."

Arnita is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Marvin Warren Foster Jr; daughter, Clennie Webster (Kris); granddaughter, Lilly Webster; sisters, Linda VenRooy (Gary) and Clara Dawson; and brothers, Anthony Jones (Sherry), Craig Jones (Colleen), and Franklin Barnett (Christy). She is predeceased by her parents and her siblings, Frances Hurlburt, Patricia Lancaster, Randy Robinson, and Wallace Lee Jones.

Arnita's life will be celebrated in a private ceremony in Houston, TX in November. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD). Post condolences on parrfuneralhome.com.