James (Jim) Gooden
1933-2015
On the early morning of September 9, 2015, James (Jim) Gooden passed away at Select Specialty Hospital in Oklahoma City. Jim was 81 years old.
Jim was born November 21, 1933 in Conway, AR. He was the youngest son of Dr. Orville and Settie Gooden. Jim graduated from Conway High School in 1951, Hendrix College in 1954 and was a proud University of Arkansas Razorback, where he earned his MBA in 1960. Jim also achieved his Eagle Scout.
Jim served in the Army from 1954 to 1957, when he was stationed much of his time in Germany. He met and married the love of his life, Jane Edwards, when he was working for Guy James Construction in Sylacauga, Alabama in 1963. They have one son, John, of Oklahoma City. After a career in accounting and office management, Jim retired in Edmond in 1994 from Allied Construction. Jim and Jane were long-time members of New Covenant Methodist Church in Edmond.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Sam Gooden (Ruth) of Iowa. He is survived by his wife Jane, son John (Stephany), brother, Richard Gooden (Chris), many nieces and nephews and honorary brother, Charlie Odom. Also survived by brother-in-law and sisters-in-law with whom he was very close.
Services will be held at New Covenant United Methodist Church in Edmond on Saturday September 12 at 11:00 am with burial in Wilsonville, Alabama.
Special thanks go to all of the doctors, nurses and caregivers at Baptist Hospital and Select Specialty Hospital.
I thought the world of Jim . Though I didn’t get to see Jim and his family as much as I would have liked, it was always fun when our families were together. The last time I got to see Jim was last November , when his son and daughter-in law surprised him and Jane with a trip to Branson , MO. for their birthday’s to hear Daniel O’Donnell in concert. My sister , brother, and I met the family there to be part of the celebration. Daniel and his singer took time to meet Jim and Jane in his dressing room for pictures, and Jim especially enjoyed having his picture taken with Nancy Duff . Being the intuitive person that Jim was, I think he had figured out where the family was going soon after they left Edmond, but kept it a surprise for Jane.
As we mourn the loss of our loved one, may we always treasure Jim’s memory .
My sincere thoughts and condolences ,
Joyce Harwell