Daisy Willita Skelton Goodson Zoellner

Daisy Willita Skelton Goodson Zoellner, daughter of Daisy Skelton and W.J. Skelton, sister of Lucille Skelton Russell, was born in Druid city hospital on February 12th 1928. Schooled in Tuscaloosa from grammar school to junior then to high school, class of 1945, and finally earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alabama in 1949.

She married Howard Dalton Goodson in 1949 and had her first son in that same year named Michall Dalton Goodson and in 1953 she had her second son named Nathan Wiley Goodson. She began her working career, at the University, in the Education library and then to the Main library. Eventually she moved to the Placement office in the education building. When the Career planning and Placement service was established at the Ferguson center she became associate director until her retirement in 1991.

Zoe was an avid reader and a talented seamstress who made a large percentage of her clothing that always had a flare of elegance. As life progressed her interest intensified towards music, theatre, visual arts, travel, and civil rights. She was a longtime yoga practitioner, a longtime folk dancer, a member of Friends of Queen City Park, Recording secretary of Mental Health Association of Tuscaloosa County, a member of UA’s Capstone Women’s Network and the Pilot Club.

Travel was perfect for her because she was a consummate people person. With a great hunger for culture, that began in 1968, the whole Goodson family went to Europe for six months as part of Howard’s sabbatical leave. Then in 1974 she returned to Greece which was the start to the eventual return of eighteen times to that country and the people she loved dearly.

When in 1975 Howard Goodson died, Zoe began to travel again and in 1977 married Richard Zoellner who became a new travel partner trekking to South America twice with England and France following. They kept traveling until Richard’s death in 2003. Zoe was a great mother to her son Nathan Goodson and her step-son David Zoellner.

She supported many groups such as the Tuscaloosa Democratic Party, Schoolyard Roots, The Department of Art and Art History, the League of Women Voters, the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, the Opera Guild, and the Frank Moody Art Gallery among many others.

Zoe will be missed by many friends from near and far, especially for her ability to engage anyone in conversation and to make anyone feel welcome.

Condolences may be offered to:

www.memorychapelfuneralhome.com

or

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🎶“She was just too marvelous too marvelous for words” 🎶