Donald D. Goodner Sr.

TYLER, TX – A memorial service celebrating the life of Donald D. Goodner, Sr. will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 24, 2016 at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel. The family will be receiving friends at 10:00 a.m., prior to the service at the funeral home.

Don was born in Sims, AR to O.F. Goodner, Sr. and Collin Grove Goodner on May, 31, 1930. He graduated from Oden High School in Oden, AR and attended Ouachita Baptist College. Don served 4 years in the Navy and 16 years in the Air Force, he was a Korean and Vietnam Veteran. After retiring from the military Don went on to work as the Chief of Police at the Veterans Hospital in Shreveport, LA. His pleasures in life included gardening and fishing with his grandsons. He was proud of his Cherokee Indian heritage.

He was preceded in death by his parents, O.F. and Collin Goodner; wife of 59 years LaVerne Goodner; son, Gene Goodner; sister, Ethel Thompson; and brothers, O.F. Goodner, Jr. and Gene Goodner.

Don is survived by his son, Don Goodner, Jr. and wife Cyndee of Riverside CA; daughter, Sherry Vanderslice and husband James of Liberty City TX; grandchildren, Brian Goodner and wife Mandy, Scott Goodner, Mark Vanderslice, Matthew Vanderslice and Derek Eaton and great grandchildren, Eden and Ezra Goodner.

The family would like to acknowledge four very special friends, Charles “Chuck” Owens and his wife Louise, Watson “Mack” McCreary and his wife Janelle and our Aunt Laverne Beam. Thank you for being there for our parents.

Condolences may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorialfh.com