Vyra Mae Foster Hendrickson was born on September 6, 1931 and grew up in Crown Point, Indiana, with her parents Margaret and Glen “Duke” Foster.

She was an only child.  When she was a teenager, she dreamed of traveling all over the world.  That dream came true when she married a sailor, Jerry, in 1950.  The day after the wedding they headed for California and she never looked back.

While Jerry served in the Navy, they lived in Miami, Columbus, Memphis, and then headed back to California.  Jerry transferred to the Air Force and they proceeded to live in San Antonio, England, France, New Mexico and Virginia.  While overseas, they traveled to Austria, San Marino, Italy, Switzerland and extensively throughout France.

During the time that Jerry served in Vietnam, Vyra lived in San Antonio and worked with teenagers at Texas A&M College.  After several years in St. Louis they retired to Lebanon, MO and built their dream home.

Vyra was enthusiastic and prolific in community service.  She traveled several times to Guatemala to distribute over 7,000 pairs of eyeglasses to the needy with the Lions.  She served as a Girl Scout leader and was an organizing member of the Wyota Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and most recently was a member of the Agnes Hill Chapter, NSDAR.  She worked with the Lebanon Rural Fire Protection District, was a member of the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, Daughters of the American Colonists, worked with the Children of the American Revolution, was a 25-year member of the Laclede County Historical Society, volunteered at the historical jail museum, served as a Committee Person for Washington County and was Secretary of the Central Republican Committee.

Vyra was an avid reader, she and her daughters read every book on the book mobile that served the American families in Europe.  She was a member of the Friends of the Library wherever she lived.  She pieced and hand quilted beautiful quilts for her family and enjoyed collecting “Ladies Head” vases.

Jerry and Vyra spent their latter years in Branson, Missouri, enjoying time with family.  

Vyra loved her family and is survived by her daughters, Virginia and Valeria, along with their husbands, Dave Cain and Tom Dudley.  She had four grandchildren:  Lori Copeland, husband Donnie, and children Jack, Lydia and Esther; Shelly Vanderpool, husband Garrett, and children Caiden, Cole, Cooper and Kinsie; Craig Nunnally, wife Christina, and children Sebastian, Jade, Matthea, Charlotte, Oliver and Calvin, and great great granddaughter Sofia; Carrie Conaway, husband Kris, and daughter Samantha.

Vyra’s love of her life and husband of 68 years, Jerry, passed away in 2019.  Vyra was very patriotic and believed strongly in love of her country and her family.  Her smile and laughter will be missed.

Vyra will be interred in Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield.  Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home and Crematory, Branson.