Services for Lynn Goodell, 85, Lawrence, will be Monday, December 27th at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049. In the Spring an Inurnment service with full Military Honors will be held by the family at Pioneer Cemetery.
Mr. Goodell died Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness.
He was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi February 16, 1936, son of John William and Celestine Morrow Goodell. Lynn grew up in Texas where the family moved to in 1938. After completing high school, Lynn started college at North Texas State, but after a year or two he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1955. He served as a Metalsmith with the Pacific Submarine Rescue Fleet, and traveled the world on three different ships. Lynn has related many adventures from those years, including playing baseball for the U.S. Navy Pacific Submarine Fleet in Hawaii the last year of his service. Professional baseball teams visited Hawaii in their off-season to play against the Navy team. After his honorable discharge in 1959, he returned to college at Emporia State, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree and then later from the University of Kansas with a Master Degree in Public Administration. His Urban Renewal/Development career included positions with the cities of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Coffeyville, Kansas; and ultimately as Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development for Lawrence, Kansas for many years until his retirement in 2001. Upon retirement he was honored with a street being named for him – GOODELL COURT in east Lawrence.
His wife of 23 years, Marion Goodell, survives at the home. Other survivors include four sons, Bill, Eli, Bear and Sam; a step-son, Scott; a grandson, Clayton; sister, Lydia Williams, and brother, Wayne Goodell; four daughters-in law, Nancy, Brandi, Emily and Laura; and many nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorials to Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, www.habitat.org/support/honor-memorial-gifts
