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JIMMY FRANKLIN FOUST
July 1, 1954 – Aug. 6, 2022
Foust obit pic

Jimmy Franklin Foust passed away peacefully on August 6, 2022.

Jimmy began his adventurous life in Selmer, Tennessee, born to parents George Albert Foust and Odelee Baldwin Foust. Growing up, Jimmy enjoyed the outdoors, sports, and generally being as social as he possibly could. Those passions did not change throughout the course of his life.

Jimmy graduated from Selmer High School, and later got his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. After college, Jimmy lived in Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky, before finally settling down in Northern California. Jimmy started his career working as a Ranger in Yosemite, and then later at the Stanislaus River Parks. It was here that Jimmy realized he didn’t love taking directions, and transitioned into a life of delegation and living the life that his friends and family knew him for: a life of adventure, momentary chaos, and above-all-else, social interaction. Jim truly followed through in living the life that he had envisioned early on.

Through the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jim dabbled in entrepreneurship in the exotic fields of whitewater rafting, hot air ballooning, jet-skiing, tour transportation, and cross-country skiing (as well as, at one point, running a bar and restaurant). Risk-aversion was not on the menu. Later in life, Jimmy became best known for building Sunshine Rafting Adventures and Delta Charter Bus, and he leaves behind many employees that will hold him in their memories.

Those who knew Jimmy will recall his intense fondness for world travel, for speaking to strangers, for driving down unmarked gravel roads, for reading newspapers to anyone that would listen, for old diesel Mercedes cars, for hushpuppies, and for playing the air drums (especially on the dashboard of vehicles). He was an adventurer to the core, and was one of the few people in the world who could genuinely be described as “fearless”.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his sister Elaine.

He is survived by his loving and patient wife, Desiree Amor-Diestel (who will greatly miss his antics and humor), his equally loving children, Biancha Foust and Shiloh Foust, and his siblings George Foust, Kathy Kellum, and Patsy White.

Jim’s memorial service will be held at Brice Station Vineyards in Murphys on Sunday, August 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feel free to dress as Jim would have: in sandals with socks, Tennessee Volunteers apparel, and a well-worn baseball cap.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

The Riverbank (Calif.) News

Aug. 17, 2022