Linnie Sue Goodwin

Linnie Sue Goodwin, age 98, was called home on September 23, 2017. Sue is predeceased by her husband of over 50 years, Alonzo Sterling Goodwin and her son Gerald Julian Goodwin; four siblings, Bob Whiteside, Clyde Whiteside, Grace Whiteside Carmichael, and Blanche Whiteside Holloman. She is survived by her loving children, Phil Goodwin of Tyler, Texas, Sharon Cox of Magnolia, Texas; two siblings, Jack Whiteside of Riceville, Tennessee, Helen Scoggins of Etowah, Tennessee; seventeen grandchildren, Angela Goodwin of Austin, Texas, Bryan Goodwin of College Station, Texas, Jeremy Goodwin of Kingwood, Texas, Michelle Goodwin of Bluemont, Virginia, David Goodwin of Leesburg , Virginia, Abbie Mayberry of Marion, Texas, Nicole Orner of Phoenix, Arizona, Randy Morrison of Dallas, Texas, Brooke Cox of Madrid, Spain, Colleen Shulenberger of Tyler, Texas, Phillip Sterling Goodwin of Aubrey, Texas, Gwen Spadie of Tyler, Texas, Seth Goodwin of Flint, Texas, Stephen Goodwin of Tyler, Texas, Jacob Goodwin of Tyler, Texas, Bonnie Silva of Tyler, Texas, and Nolan Goodwin of Tyler, Texas; twenty great-grandchildren: Brianna, Sophia, Gabriel, Cole, Grace, Taylor, Teagan, Norah, Autumn, Shawn, Knox, Ellie, Peter, Rose, Austin, Sterling, Collin, Alex, Emma, and Genesis as well as a host of friends and other family members.

Sue grew up in the rolling hills of Tennessee. When she was young, her family experienced the Great Depression and times were very tough. She was able to keep attending school and despite her diminutive size, was a forward on her school’s basketball team where she was known to be one tough cookie. She met her husband, Sterl, and began a new journey as they raised three children and worked towards building a better life for their family.

While her husband rose through the ranks of his organization, Sue kept the home fires burning, taking care of Sterl and the children through various moves. She and her husband and children loved to travel; Sue and Sterl visited almost every state in the U.S.

Sue was intelligent, loving, and caring. She could work a crossword puzzle like nobody’s business. She was also known in her family for her delicious Southern cooking, especially her buttermilk biscuits made from scratch and her amazing Christmas cookies. She loved little children, especially babies, so much so that we lovingly referred to her as the “Patron Saint of All Children”. She loved family gatherings and when her husband played his guitar and sang old Kentucky songs for her.

One of the highlights of her life was traveling to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Sue had a strong faith in God which gave her tremendous peace in her final days.

She had the finest sense of humor and loved to laugh at the silliness of it all. She was tough, she was kind, she was our protector, and she will be greatly missed in the days ahead - wonderful was her love for us.

The family will receive friends for visitation Friday, September 29, 2017 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Brookside Funeral Home; and a funeral service to celebrate her life on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 9:30 AM at Kingwood First Baptist Church, 3500 Woodland Hills Dr., Kingwood, Texas 77339; followed by a burial at Brookside Memorial Park, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77039. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.