Mabel F. Goodpaster

Mabel F. Goodpaster, 80, of Sugar Creek, Missouri passed away on March 17, 2015 at her home. Mabel was born on September 16, 1934 in Kansas City, Missouri. Her mother, Mabel Hersey preceded her in death in 1989. Mabel was baptized as a teenager at Bales Baptist Church. She graduated from Northeast High School in 1952. In 1953, Mabel married her one and only love, Claude Lee (Pete) Goodpaster. They had one son, Mike Goodpaster and have resided in Sugar Creek for the past fifty years. She treasured her small family and served as a great model of selflessness and unconditional love to her husband and son.

Throughout her life, Mabel held many jobs and was always commended on her exceptional work ethic. Employers included KC Bank and Trust, Calvary Baptist Church, Union Pacific Railroad, Sugar Creek Bank, and V.P. of Ace Pipe Cleaning. Following her mother’s death from cancer, she volunteered at the R.A. Bloch Second Opinion Cancer Hotline in Kansas City, earning the respect of doctors, co-workers, friends, and those effected with cancer. She was data manager of the breast cancer prevention trials and STAR studies with the Kansas City Clinical Oncology program. It was here that she worked with leading cancer physicians, receiving several honors for her superior endeavors and hard work in the field of cancer research and prevention.

Mabel was been a member of Maywood Baptist Church the last forty years, where she valued her always important relationship with her heavenly father, served others, and influenced many lives. In her spare time, she and her husband enjoyed traveling and taking cruises. She also enjoyed spending time making memories with her granddaughters. Many memories were made during the all-day shopping trips and vacations to Deer Valley Ranch, Branson, California, and Las Vegas, among others. She spent countless hours attending her granddaughter’s activities and cheering for her favorite local sports teams, the Royals, Chiefs, and Kansas Jayhawks.

Mabel is survived by her husband Claude Lee (Pete) Goodpaster, of Sugar Creek, Missouri; son Mike Goodpaster (wife Sheila) of Land O Lakes, Florida; two granddaughters, Natalie Goodpaster of Overland Park, Kansas and Valerie Poynor (husband Josh) of Strafford, Missouri; sister Carolyn Megee of Spring Hill, Kansas; as well as many other great family members and cherished friends.

A visitation will be held Sunday, March 22, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with funeral services held Monday, March 23, at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. Burial in Mt. Moriah Cemetery South. Special thanks to SouthernCare Hospice and Comfort Keepers for the care and comfort they provided to Mabel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Maywood Baptist Building Fund, 10505 East Winner Road, Independence, Missouri 64052. In 2002, a news article quoted Mable as saying, “Nothing is more important than our family, our health, and our personal faith,” and she lived this statement every day of her life. Mabel will be forever missed.