Shirley Ann Goodell

Shirley graduated from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and earned a Master of Sacred Music degree at Scarritt Graduate School in Nashville, Tennessee. She taught Music in Elementary schools in Tennessee and in both Elementary and Middle Schools in Florida. She was a Music Minister at The First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Tennessee; Church Organist and Choir Director St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ft. Pierce, Florida, at Living Lord Lutheran Church, and at First United Methodist Church in Port St. Lucie. She also Supplied Part-time as Organist/Choir Director at St. Augustine Episcopal Church and St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach.

Shirley was currently a member and past dean of the Treasure Coast Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, member and past president of the Vero Beach Choral Society, and a member of the Piano Duet Club of Vero Beach. She served as a member of the piano scholarship committee of Vero Beach Opera. She was certified to teach Handbells, incorporating them in her music education classes as well as in the church choirs she directed and played in concerts with the Atlantic Ringers in Vero Beach.

Shirley always loved music. Her mother Della played the piano. Shirley played the flute in the High School Band. She was a housewife while her children were growing up and was involved at that time in church choir and Community Music Organizations. She played the flute, the piccolo, the recorder and the piano then, and involved her children in singing along, especially using her musical gifts for behavior modification.

Her unwavering faith and love for her family are the things she will be remembered for by those who were close to her. Shirley was also a devoted friend to the people she called “friend.” She was generous and thoughtful. She loved to play games and hated to lose. Her level of intelligence was extremely high, and challenges were her friend.

She is survived by her spouse Harlan Goodell, and children: Lisa Wimmer (Charlie), Perry Fulk, III, Christian Fulk and Paul Fulk (Nancy); Grandchildren: Andrew Hemmer, Maura Hinkle, Johanna Lindsey, Christen Zatz-Gilman (Gabriel), Levi Fulk (Natalia), Isabella Tudino, Serena and Christian Fulk; Great-grandchildren: Noah, Mia and Amelia Hemmer, Matias and Emily Bernal Suarez, Penelope, Liam, and Aeda Fulk Suarez and Connor Sisco.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Brennity, Vero Beach, Cleveland Clinic and their Hospital at Home staff, Trilogy, The Visiting Nurses Association, A Nurse’s Touch and Hospice - and especially her many doctors for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in their final days.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Vero Beach Opera Piano Scholarship “Vero Beach Opera, Inc.” with “piano scholarship” in the memo line, and mail it to Vero Beach Opera, P.O. Box 6912, Vero Beach, Florida 32961. To learn more about the piano scholarship program, call the Vero Beach opera office at 772-569-6993.

Family and friends are invited to a Visitation from 12:00 Noon – 1:00 pm at St. Augustine Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, Florida on Saturday, May 24th, 2025 with a Celebration of Life service to follow at 1:30 pm. Shirley will be interred at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, in Ft. Pierce, Florida and a reception will be held at Aycock Funeral Home.