Jean M. Goodwin

1918--2010

Jean Marie McKell Goodwin passed away peacefully of natural causes on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Jean Marie, as she was known in her younger life by family and friends was born in Payson, Utah September 8, 1918, the oldest child of five children born to Robert Dewey McKell and Mary Cecelia Ellsworth.

Jean had a life of service to family, friends, and country beginning as a young child. When her mother nearly lost her hand due to blood poisoning, Jean helped with household chores and took care of three younger brothers. Years later as a senior in high school, she took over many responsibilities after the death of her father. When World War II broke out and her brother, William, was shot down and held in a German prison camp, Jean joined the Navy Waves to do her part for her country. Throughout the rest of her life Jean was always helping someone in some way. She was a devoted wife and a loving mother. In her later life she volunteered her time helping senior citizens with income taxes.

Prior to joining the Waves, Jean studied stenography and typing at LDS Business College in Salt Lake City. This training proved valuable when she was assigned to the office of cable censorship in San Francisco during the War. When the War was over, Jean returned home and attended BYU. She graduated with a B.S. degree majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Music.

The skills Jean had developed gave her the opportunity to work as secretary for the Acting President of BYU, Christian Jensen. During this period of employment, she completed a secondary teaching certificate in Secretarial Practice and also met and married Jack Bond Goodwin August 15, 1951 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary in 2010. Jack and Jean had three children, Jilene (David) Burger, Mary Jean Pangman and Jack M. (Sue) Goodwin.

Jean was a lover of the arts—particularly music. She learned to play the piano on an old bellows organ and was given her own piano when she was thirteen years old. She played the piano most of her life and taught many students. She sang in church choirs for many years and always loved to work with the children in the LDS Primary organization. Her own children have many fond memories of singing with their mother. In her later life, Jean learned to oil paint. Many of her landscape paintings are in her home and in the homes of her children.

Jean is preceded in death by three of her four brothers, Lynn Dewey, William Ellsworth, and Cyrus Milo. She is survived by her brother, Melburn E. McKell, her husband, Jack B. Goodwin, her three children, five grandchildren, 8 step grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and 12 step great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on October 30, at 11:00 a.m. at the East Mill Creek 9th Ward Chapel located at 3750 S. Hillside Lane, Salt Lake City, UT. A viewing will be held Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to funeral services at the Ward Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Utah State Veterans Nursing Home.