Jimmy Goodwin

Jimmy Goodwin lived his 70 years on this earth to the fullest. He stubbornly refused to die in a hospital and passed away in his own home on December 31, 2016 with his family by his side. His death was on his own terms, just like his life.

Father, grandfather, husband, friend and life of the party, Jimmy Goodwin was many things to many people. He was born to Mary Francis (Oliver) and Burl Goodwin on December 20, 1946. He spent his youth at Hudson High School, and even then was known to cause a little trouble. Jimmy grew up with his brother, J.B. Goodwin, and his sister, Ruby Goodwin Hemenway.

He joined the United States Navy following high school and spent his service based out of Norfolk, Virginia. Jimmy married his high school sweetheart, Donna Sue Parks. Not surprisingly, their home in Norfolk was where all the sailors gathered for cookouts and good times. Jimmy returned to East Texas and had two daughters, Amy and Emily Goodwin. He taught them how to skin fish, shotgun beers and laugh at the craziness of the world.

The Lufkin Fire Department became a second home to Jimmy where he served for 12 years as a firefighter and paramedic. People all over Angelina County remember the funny but loving paramedic that helped them through a difficult trauma. And the many friends he made love to tell firehouse stories of cooking and laughing with Jimmy.

Following a back injury, Jimmy went into the bar business. He owned several ventures but is most known for two. He owned Beall’s Camp Marina. And the good times would roll on the Trinity River when Jimmy threw the party.

He moved back to Hudson and opened Jimmy’s Bar on August 11, 1986, and built an iconic place for beer, pool, music, food and football. Almost everyone that has lived or visited this area in the last 30 years has been a visitor to Jimmy’s Bar and usually has a great story to tell.

Jimmy was more than just a bartender. He was a good-looking man with great stories. The people that came to his bar were family to him and he treated them like that. He was there for people, to have a long talk, to have a cigarette and Budweiser, to have a good time. His patrons could count on Jimmy.

He met his wife, Teresa Goodwin, in 1989 at the bar, and they were married in 2000. Jimmy, always a ladies’ man, finally found his soul-mate. Her family became his and he happily spent the years with his sons, Sonny, Billy and Kelly Richardson, and his daughter, Rhonda Holland.

Jimmy’s grandchildren were pure happiness to him. And he taught them how to skin fish and shotgun beers all over again. And how to laugh. He gave so much love and joy that will live on indefinitely in his family.

In addition to his wife, Jimmy is survived by his son, Sonny Richardson of Santa Fe, Texas; daughters, Amy Goodwin, Rhonda Holland and Emily Goodwin, all of Lufkin; son, Billy Richardson of Lufkin; grandsons, Khaled, Malek and Tarek Zaher, Brandon Lisenby, Kingston Goodwin and Bryce Richardson; granddaughters, Destinee and Ashlyn Lisenby, and Alyssa and Lauren Richardson; brother, J.B. Goodwin, sister, Ruby Goodwin Hemenway; and brother-in-law, Chuck Medlock.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Thursday at Gipson Funeral Home.

Services for Jimmy Goodwin will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 6, 2017 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Jeremy Williams officiating. Interment will follow in the Simpson Cemetery.

SSG Billy Richardson and Jimmy’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bryce Richardson, Chuck Medlock, Joe Dunn, Gill Eubanks, Terry Ray Fry, and Dennis Wayne Dunn.

A celebration of his life will follow at Jimmy’s Bar on Highway 94. Please join his family

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.