Amanda Jean Clements Foust's Obituary
Amanda Jean Clements Foust, age 82 of Gainesville passed away Thursday, April 9, 2026. She was born January 26, 1944, in Ocala, Florida to Wilbur and Kathryn Cason Clements. She grew up in Ocala Florida.
Amanda received an AA degree in Early Childhood Education from Valencia Community College in 1974. She opened her first preschool, A Child’s Place, in 1978. Thereafter she opened four other locations in the Gainesville area. She participated in many childcare seminars over the years and held many workshops for her staff. She employed hundreds of people over the years and nurtured and educated thousands of children over forty years.
She loved shopping and spending time with her husband, children, grandkids, and great grandchild. Her favorite place to be was on the beach at St. Augustine with all her grandkids and family building sandcastles and sunning. She was always smiling and laughing and filling the room with joy. Her goal in life was to make people happy and she did that everyday.
She is survived by her husband, Vergil J. Foust (Jim), son, Justin Foust, daughter, Melissa Herring (Mark); Brother Wayne Clements (Marsha); Grandchildren, Miranda Zagorica (Amar), Addison Herring, Carys Herring, and Rex Herring; Great grandchild Delilah Zagorica. Nieces Teresa Wurster (Scott) and Tonya Clements, nephews Jacob Smith and Eric Clements and great nephews and nieces AJ Strom, Jack Strom, Lula Kay Strom, Brody Smith and Hudson Smith, and many more great nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, April 17, 2026, at 2:00p.m. at Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Westarea 823 NW 143rd Street, Newberry, FL 32669. Burial will follow at Countryside Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 5:00-7:00p.m. at Williams Thomas Funeral Home.
What’s your fondest memory of Amanda?
What’s a lesson you learned from Amanda?
Share a story where Amanda's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Amanda you’ll never forget.
How did Amanda make you smile?