Events
Nancy Elizabeth Long Foster, 87, wife, mother, and healer, passed away after a brief illness on June 27th, 2024. Beloved mother of 3 children (Emily, Rachael, & David), her loss is felt by all those who had the privilege to know and to love her.
Born Jan 12, 1937 to Odris Vincent Long and Hattie Mae Bullard in South Charleston, West Virginia. Nancy enjoyed a life full of curiosity and discovery.
Nancy was a lifelong learner always studying, questioning, and seeking answers. She earned multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio State University, a Masters in Psychiatric Nursing from Brigham Young University, and Doctorates in Philosophy and Psychology from Southwestern University.
Nancy was honored to serve in the United States Air Force as a Flight Nurse during the Vietnam War, reaching the rank of Captain. She always demonstrated a sincere gratitude towards her country and an appreciation for all those who serve.
Healing and medicine were a large part of Nancy’s identity and heritage. She began her education at the feet of her Cherokee grandmother who instilled many values and life lessons. She went on to excel as a nurse, ultimately becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She treated the complete person: mind, body, and soul. She found joy working long hours serving her patients and even caring for others until her final days.
After researching the worlds religions, Nancy choose to be baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Her Judeo-Christian roots gave her a strong appreciation and respect for all religions. She found deep love and peace serving in the LDS temple with her husband Eric.
Nancy met Eric Foster her eternal sweetheart at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1972. They were married a few months later on January 8, 1973 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Nancy’s greatest joy in life was being a mother. She was never satisfied to just watch her children play; instead, she helped them create experiences and participated in their adventures.
Nancy was an artist at heart. She loved music, dancing, painting, and sculpting. She always sought to make the world a better place by seeing the best in others.
Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, Odris and Hattie. She is survived by her husband Eric Foster, Daughters Emily Redstone (Grant) and Rachael Kirkwood (Corey d), and son David Foster (Christine) and her 9 grandchildren: Jackson, Simon, Violet, James, Clara Bella, Alice, Abraham, Winston, Hazel, and god-granddaughters Savannah and Alex.
Funeral services and viewings will be held at the Crystal Heights Ward House: 1970 East, Stratford Avenue. Viewings will be held Sunday, July 7th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm and July 8th from 9:30am to 10:45am. Funeral services will be held July 8th at 11:00am.
Nancy wanted everyone to be made whole and know they were loved.
In lieu of flowers, please do something kind for someone in need.
Guestbook/Condolences
Nancy was a gift to this world. She healed and loved so many. For me, she was the first person to really truly care about me and see me for who I could be. I owe her my happiness. I’ll be forever grateful to have known such a healer.
I’m grateful to have met you, Nancy. My children cried when I broke the news to them. You loved them as if they were your very own grandchildren. I am going to miss our conversations. Thank you for your kindness. It was always a learning moment when I was with you. I’m grateful to know and understand the gospel. That was my favorite topic to talk about with you and now you have graduated life and on to the next level! I know you are free from suffering and things are much better on the other side! Ofa Lahi Atu, Nancy! That means, “I love you so much!” In Tongan.
We will miss the holiday meals, games, dancing, smiles, laughs, hot chocolate, love, e cards and so much more. We love and miss you so much. I’m glad you are still watching over our kids and look forward to the day we are all together again.
Nancy was truly an angel on earth and blessed and touched the lives of so many people. She was so generous with her time and talents and was one of the best therapists in the state. I am grateful for her life and friendship. She will be missed. I have such love and admiration for her. She will now do a marvelous work in Heaven as she did here on earth. My deepest sympathy to her family.
Patty Butts, LPC
Nancy, I am grateful to have been apart of your life. Your love healed my soul. Your Grace & Compassion is my compass for my journey here on earth. You will forever be in my heart. Love You
miss you, Nancy. you saw me through a lot of hard things through the years and you were tough as nails. you always had a listening ear when life was too much to handle for me and gave me such thoughtful gifts. when you engaged with someone you were hyperfocused in--sometimes you saw so much i think i was a little intimidated, especially as a teenager. all you ever wanted was for me to come out of my room and i can't thank you enough for the part you played in helping me get to where i am today with understanding and love. on Facebook, you're wearing my glasses in your profile picture--the round yellow ones i always wore, and you have a huge smile on your face. i'm sorry i didn't always know how to respond in the face of your unflinching love when i was so shy and nervous. more than probably anyone i know i can say you knew where you were going, and that gives me peace. thank you for all you did for my family, the beautiful nuggets of wisdom you shared with me, the beautiful gemstones you'd gift to me because you felt i needed it. i still have that amethyst geode and it is immensely important to me.
i love you so much. happy trails, my grandmother in spirit.
Nancy was truly and angel on earth! She will be deeply missed
Nancy and Eric were friends with my wife’s parents on 3rd Avenue in the 27th East Ward. My wife, Carrie Bergeson baby sat the 3 children. Eric and Nancy came to our wedding reception in 1981. Nancy as a Nurse Practitioner helped many people and helped host and facilitate monthly meetings for Utah Hormone Practitioners for years in the Graystone office. She mentored many practitioners. She sent many patients to our pharmacy to do saliva testing and to get their hormones and other medications. She often helped people pay for their medication and helped many ProBono. She was “The Mother Theresa of Utah”. She gave me and many people gifts at Christmas and for no reason just because she loved you and wanted to give you something. One of my most cherished gifts was a beautiful hand made turquoise large Dream catcher. I so loved and admired her. She was like a 2nd mother.
What a wonderful spirit. Her words were seeds that could transform an existence made of darkness and inhospitable psychological rock into a forest of hope, empathy, and perpetual betterment. She saved my life. The kindness and understanding she exposed me to during our short time together has bettered the lives and restored the dignity of many who will never know her name or her actions.
Those close to her were blessed.