Sue E. Goddard

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Sue E. Goddard, it summarized in every way who she was. She was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around her and always thinking before acting. She was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything she did. She was a friendly person who truly cared about those around her.

       She was the daughter of Herman and Glorene Thetford. Raised in Cash, she was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, she learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that she would carry with her throughout her life.

      As a young girl, Sue was always aware of how others around her felt and this quality served her well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, It seemed as if Sue was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where she could concentrate, Sue also had the ability to relate well with her family and friends. Sue was raised with seven siblings. She had three older siblings, Phil, Vireka, Ezra, and four younger siblings, Patricia, Harold, Carol, and Tom. Sue was constantly involved in activities with her family. Sue and her siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

      Growing up, Sue was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. She was content to entertain herself. Sue was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, she was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything she did as a child, Sue was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around her. Sue took part in a number of activities as a child. She took part in track and cheerleading. She was involved in FHA (Future Homemakers of America) where she was the chapter president and a class officer. In her spare time, she liked to play with friends and siblings, read, and sew.

      Sue enjoyed learning. She always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Sue was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. She often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Sue was painstaking and accurate in her efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. She graduated from Cash High School in 1961. Sue enjoyed some courses more than others, having her favorite subjects and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was English. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Ms. Jimmy, her third-grade teacher, and Aunt Hazel who taught her how to read in first grade. Some of her high school achievements include competing in the State Fair and being a class officer.

      Sue had a good disposition for the challenges of college. She always enjoyed reading, so all of those lengthy required reading assignments seemed to be less of a burden for her. In fact, Sue seemed to absorb and remember everything she read. Not all things came easily to Sue, however, and she found success by being a diligent and accurate person who would dig into a project and work through it until it reached its completion. She was very thorough and labored long and hard in order to reach her goals. She earned her BA in Education from Arkansas State University. She also pursued graduate school, earning her masters in Education from the University of Nebraska, Omaha.

      Most folks would say that Sue was quiet until they got to know her. Those who were privileged to know her well learned that she was a solid, good friend. Sue was reluctant to generalize about people, and she based her friendships on her personal experiences. Because of this, Sue best trusted those people that she truly knew. She was concerned about how those around her felt, and she always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. She could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that she made, Sue kept. While growing up, some of her best friends were Mary Alice, Betty, and Stella along with her brother Ezra and sister Patricia. After her marriage, she and Harry gained great friends in Collin and Alinda Powers and Scott and Sue Downs. Later in life, she became friends with an amazing group of people affectionately known as "The Games Group" (including Cheryl Halford, Mickey Greiner, Linda Plesko, Marsha Freedman, Jacquie Seguin, and Christine Probert among others), Patty Miller, Lou Montez, Judy Hampshire, and Sue Allen are also numbered among her close friends.

      Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Sue. On August 10, 1968, Sue married Harry Louis Goddard at Cash Church of Christ, in Cash, Arkansas. She was totally committed to Harry and maintained traditional ideas about marriage. It was as if Sue naturally sensed her spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Sue disliked conflict, she did not take flight from discord but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

      Sue was a good mother to her children. She had “old-fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because she trusted emotions, Sue was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way she seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around her, always thinking before acting. In addition, Sue was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around her might be, she seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Sue was blessed with two children, one daughter, Shelly, and one son, Tom. Sue and Harry added a daughter-in-law, Susie, and a son-in-law, Kyle to the family. They were also blessed with seven grandchildren, Carson, Will, Alex, Evan, Jackson, Addie, and Emma.

      If you gave Sue a deadline, she would meet it. At work, Sue was always on task. Without hesitation, Sue could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. Her primary occupation was as a teacher. During that time, Sue excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. She was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Sue was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Sue had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. She was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

      Sue liked to experience things firsthand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Sue's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Sue preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on her hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were gardening, reading, and playing games. Sue was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying her garden all by herself, and could often be found just reading and thinking..

      Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Sue had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that she was the trip planner. She would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Her favorite vacations included cruising, visiting Italy, and Disney World with her grandchildren.

           She had taken the time to learn about her various options and chose her course wisely. Sue found pleasure in playing in various card groups, volunteering at her grandchildren's school, gardening in her beautiful yard, and spending time with friends and family. Even in retirement, Sue continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. She was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered her.

      Sue passed away on March 22, 2022, at home, in Porter, Texas. Sue fought a long and brave battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Harry, her children Tom and Shelly, and her grandchildren Carson, Will, Alex, Evan, Jackson, Addie, and Emma. Services were held at Kingwood Funeral Home. Sue was laid to rest in Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Houston, Texas.

In lieu of flowers and in memory of Sue, please consider contributions to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or http://www.mdanderson.org/gifts. (Sue Goddard)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kingwoodfuneralhome.com for the Goddard/Wilcox family.

      It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Sue was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Sue was a trustworthy, pragmatic, and sympathetic person, the kind of woman to whom everyone was drawn. She was thorough and practical. Sue Goddard was very literal with her words. You always knew where you stood with Sue. She will be missed.