Foster McGuire, 84, of Sedalia, died Saturday, September 5, 2015, at Bothwell Regional Health Center.

He was born October 27, 1930, in Knob Noster, son of the late Granville Emerson and Mary Jo Foster McGuire. On February 10, 1979, in Joplin, he married Mary Lee Rinehart Cornell.

Foster was a graduate of Knob Noster High School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He played basketball at Nebraska Wesleyan University and was an All-American player in 1954. He played in the minor leagues for the Boston Braves. He went on to earn a Specialist's degree in safety management from Central Missouri State University.

Mr. McGuire coached and taught driver's education at Smith-Cotton High School from 1961 to 1970. He led his golf team to win the state championship once. From 1970 to 1994, he taught criminal justice at State Fair Community College, a program which he started. He served as the deputy juvenile officer for Pettis and Cooper Counties for 26 years. He also refereed and umpired football, basketball and baseball for 30 years.
He farmed his 20 acres for 30 years, raising cattle and horses. He enjoyed fishing and hunting.

Foster was a 50-year member of Broadway Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association and the State Fair Retired Teachers Association.

In addition to his wife, Mary Lee, survivors include three children, Emerson Foster "Skip" McGuire II, of Ashland, Joseph Albert McGuire, of Seminole, FL, and Mary Kepler (Gordon), of Atlanta, GA; two stepsons, John Cornell (Kathy), and Jay Cornell (Angela), all of Sedalia; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a cousin, Melvin Foster (Ann), of Knob Noster; and two sisters-in-law, Bobby Doerge, of Joplin, and Maxine Rinehart, of Fredonia, NY.

Memorial services will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 10, at Heckart Funeral Home, with the Rev. Rob Hughes officiating.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 9, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Broadway Presbyterian Church or State Fair Community College Foundation.

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