Ecclesiastics 11:11 – "God’s ways area as mysterious as the pathway of the wind."
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Sanford Wiley Foley was born on September 8, 1925 to Edward Wiley Foley and Alica Maria (O’Toole) Foley.
His arrival was on the farmstead home in Monroe Township, Daviess County, Missouri. Three sisters, Harriet, Rebecca and Susan preceded his birth and Martha was born later. With four sisters, he was a special person in the family’s eyes. He lived on the Foley Farm his entire life. He was the fourth generation to live there and his son and daughter are the 5th. In Ecclesiastics it states, "One generation passeth away and another generation cometh…"
He was not just "a farmer" but was dedicated to it…every day of his life and worked from seedtime to harvest, but never on Sunday. Conservation was part of his operation and generations of love surrounded this farm. The neighborhood had strength of character and his strength was in-planted in his children.
For many years, he served on Monroe Township’s Board. He took an interest in good roads — remembering days past when he and other neighbors had to pay for new ones. His last vote, always Democratic, was in Monroe Township.
Lick Fork Church had long been (from 1863) a part of the Foley Family. It had closed once due to modern cars taking people in to town. In the 60’s, he helped to reopen the doors once again. He became a Christian at an early age and was a member there.
His father helped organize Lick Fork Cemetery association and served as President of that Board. Upon his death, Wiley became President and worked for 42 years in that role. He often helped people find the peace that the little cemetery possessed. The little church and long winding road entrance marked the view of a beautiful cemetery. In Springtime, you felt a breath of fresh air and in fall, as this year, as the trees shed their leaves, there is a simple elegance as the place becomes a show place of God’s changing season in all our lives.
In Ecclesiastics it says "To everything there is a season…a time to be born and a time to die…A time to every purpose under heaven." The countryside with each harvest is a part of the seasons in farm life, and a testament to God’s plan and how abundant rewards are for his people. Later, Wiley followed the Christian path to First Baptist Church, Gallatin, where he served as a deacon, and both his children were baptized. His life of always being in attendance showed the importance the church held in his day-to-day living.
He joined the Masonic Lodge number 106 at Gallatin and recently received his 50 year pin. He was a member of the Trenton Council number 37, Godfrey DeBowillian Commander number 24, Trenton chapter number 66 and was a Shriner at Moila Temple in St. Joseph.
Wiley served in the Army in the Occupational Forces in Germany. His love of country was evident in his citizenship and patriotism.
He loved to be around people — whether having daily coffee at the café or just seeing people to talk. Wiley didn’t know a stranger. However, most of all he enjoyed the quiet times with his family. He married Barbara Somerville on October 20, 1962 and last Saturday they would have celebrated 45 years of marriage. A sadness in their lives was losing their first born son, Michael Sanford. However, two special blessings of Anne and Eddie were to follow. When Anne left for college, Wiley wrote her every day. For Eddie, he would help carry a deer when he went hunting, and attended every sporting event he had.
Today, four little grandsons, the 6th generation, have Foley roots. His concern for their lives was evidenced in his birthday and Christmas gifts of savings bonds each year. Every time he mowed the yard, Jameson, age 3, would want to ride with him, and he loved the tractor magazines Granddaddy would send to him. Christopher, age 2, was fond of blowing him kisses. Benjamin, age 9, shared his football stories with him (Wiley saw his first tackle football game this year, a month ago, and even participated in the Victory Tunnel on the field). Graham, age 2, would give "Pa Pa" a hug. His time on earth had truly been blessed by his grandchildren. As it says in Proverbs, "Children are a gift from God", and Wiley was rich in these small gifts. His legacy will bless the earth for years to come.
Memorial services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at the First Baptist Church in Gallatin.
Survivors include his wife Barbara of Gallatin, daughter, Anne Rauth of Kansas City, Mo., son Eddie Foley of Overland Park, Ks. and four grandchildren.