Life Celebration and the hardest, Until We Meet Again

Heaven gained a special person. 

The loss of Casey's dad has been so, so hard.

Our sweet Papa was everything to us.

He worked HARD, served HARD, and most
importantly, loved HARD.

You could find him to be holding multiple babies at one time, whipping up his 

famous meatloaf, pushing kiddos in the porch swings, always up by 5am (or earlier) to

get to working, wearing his cowboy hat or being very quiet.
He was tender-hearted, but one of the strongest people I know!

 For 12+ years he fought a long, hard battle with cancer.

He fought with every ounce of his being, sacrificing so much along the way.

It was not easy to give up good tasting food, countless doctors appointments- holistic

and modern, pokes, prods, and scans.

Through Priesthood blessings he was promised miracles because of
 his faithfulness to the Lord.
Boy, did we witness that!

We were granted many extra years with  Papa that
exceeded the doctors expectations time and time again.

He knew what he needed to do, and he did it with exactness.

Even though we did end up losing him too early,

we know there is a loving Heavenly Father who is all knowing.

He has a plan, and I know Papa was willing to follow that plan.

The week leading up to his funeral was very special.

There was nothing better, being in a spiritual bubble together as a family.

Remembering and honoring one of our biggest heroes! 

It was a hard goodbye, but I know his presence is near.

I think I could have stared at the display tables all day.

He was always a walking advertisement for the businesses he loved!

Even passed away in his Gunnels Tires shirt.

We will never not think of Papa when eating M&M's!

It was no surprise he would attract a crowd.

He was loved by many!

Our final goodbyes before closing the casket.

I could have sat and listened to stories all day about Papa!

Each one of his children gave a wonderful tribute about their Dad. 
I knew he was amazing, but now I need to get cracking at living up to his name!

The grandchildren were brave and sang The Miracle.

Which is a tear jerker on its own!

I don't know how they did it.

Caravan to the new San Tan cemetery.

The temple en route couldn't have been more perfect.

Grammy picked a perfect spot.

In the shade, just how he liked it:)

And the fountain is so pretty, too.

It is hard to believe this day actually happened.

However, I see so much of him in Casey and our children.

Grateful for those little reminders until we get to be reunited again!

And we are grateful for our Grammy who loved, cared and advocated for

Papa, always. Her strength amazed us, and continues to amaze us.

Families are without a doubt forever.

Until we get to meet, hug, squeeze, kiss, play with you again!

In Loving Memory

Obituary written by Grammy.

Randy Lane Goodman, 63 years old, of Mesa, AZ passed away peacefully at home December 15, 2019 surrounded by his loving wife and children. He was born February 20, 1956 in Tucson, AZ to Donald Eugene Goodman and Della Lou Miller Goodman. He was the fourth of seven children. He woke up early every morning of his life whether it was milking cows, going to football, baseball or basketball practice, serving others or pouring concrete. While attending St. David, AZ High School, he was recognized with multiple sports awards. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Costa Rica Mission from March 1975 to March 1977, which included serving in Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica. He married his best friend, Debbie Jean Kerby, August 11, 1977 in the Mesa Arizona Temple. He has served as Young Men’s President, 11-year-old Scout Leader, Bishopric Counselor, Stake High Counselor and most recently as Bishop of the Crosspoint Ward Mesa Arizona Mountain View Stake. He was a business partner owner of Sher-Good Concrete and Good-Wood Properties with Ted Sherwood. He loved his family, his Savior, serving others, gardening and sports. Randy will be remembered for his delicious homemade ice cream, hard work ethic and quiet service to others.
He is survived by his wife and seven children, Jesse James (Kristen), Stephanie Lou Holmes Piacitelli (Justin), Casey Lane (Shelley), Travis Gene (Sunni), Melinda Rae Hathcock (Stephen), Breanna Dawn Ellingson (Martin), and Valerie Lee Heywood (Jake) and 30 grandchildren. Also his siblings Connie Merrill, Benny Goodman, Dona Lee, Deanna Chandler and Rodney Goodman. He is preceded in death by his parents, Don and Lou; brother, Jerry Goodman; son-in-law, Bryant Holmes; and grandson, Gunner Gene Goodman. Viewings will be Friday, December 20, 2019 5:30-7:00 pm and Saturday, December 21 at 12:00 noon with funeral service following at 1:00 pm. All will be held at the Mesa Mountain View Stake Center, 1550 N. Val Vista Dr., Mesa, AZ. Interment will take place at Gilbert Memorial Park, 2100 E. Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert, AZ following the services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Humanitarian Aid for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Our Papa

With funeral planning, the pictures started rolling in!

I saved some of my favorites that depict him perfectly.

Husband, father, Papa, Bishop, neighbor, friend.

Always either working, cooking, playing, or spreading love.

Sweet Papa

Hospice needed to be called in to help in the care of Papa. 

They advised that we needed to bump up our Christmas if we wanted to spend it with him.

What a hard pill to swallow.

With the organized Grammy that we have, she already had set December 15th
 to be our Christmas party.

Only instead of it being a party, it was a very special, sacred evening spent

with the most incredible family.

We started out pretty solemnly.

Taking turns holding Papas hand.

They gave him a special blessing.

Allowing him to move on if he felt he needed to.

Thanking him for all that he had done for us, and will continue to do.

He was not able to communicate with us with words.

However, I knew he was very aware of who was there and 

talking to him.

He would doze in and out of sleep.

He was also in a lot of pain. That was hard to see. 

And also leave it to Grammy to have him dressed 

all festively.

This group of boys had Papas heart.

His very first crop of grandsons, (after a slew of of grand daughters)
who he loved fiercely.

And who they loved unconditionally as well.

We ate dinner then moved onto the nativity. 

Lindi was head over heels excited it was her turn to be Mary this year!

Sweetest little angel there ever was.

Papa is usually the one who reads the nativity from the scriptures.

Valerie was able to find a video on her phone from past years of a quick excerpt, 

just so we could hear his voice.

It was getting late.

Papa was becoming more agitated.

Hospice was on its way with more pain relief.

Nobody was aware of what would come in the next hour.

We figured it would be a week, maybe 2 before it actually happened.

The grand kids said their tearful goodbyes.

Siblings stayed behind, to get him settled for the night
 before going home themselves.

It wasn't an hour before I got the call from Casey.

He could hardly blurt it out.

But I knew. 

He had passed. 

Surrounded by each one of his loving children and wife. 

He held out for us.

For one last special night all together.

I think that is what gets me the most.

A strong confirmation that family was his everything!

He didn't want to leave, he fought it until the end.