Kathrine N. Gooding

Kathrine N. Gooding, 85, of Ventura, passed away Wednesday evening, on March 2, 2016. She was born August 27, 1930 in Truman, Arkansas. Kathrine was raised and nurtured by her mother Bessie L. Bishop, and her grandparents, and extended family. Kathrine attended a total of 13 schools by the time she successfully completed high school.

In 1950, she married Jack L. Gooding just before he went to Japan and Korea with the National Guard. She worked as a nursing assistant, and saved for their first house, which they bought in Upland, California on his return, and they started their family.

In 1963, Jack’s work brought them to Ventura, and Kathrine has lived in Ventura, in the same home since that year.

Kathrine worked in the field of early childhood education, and eventually returned to school to earn her Master’s degree in counseling and was licensed as a Marriage, Family, Child Counselor (MFCC). She maintained a private practice in counseling while making time to travel to Europe, Russia, Alaska, China, Transylvania and the Yucatan.

After retiring from private practice, she followed her love of learning down many different paths, including the study of Humanism, Buddhism, women’s issues, meditation, and discussion of the latest books. Kathrine was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, where she shared her love, knowledge and wisdom with anyone who came into view. She relished entertaining small groups in her home for any occasion.

As she would wish it to be, she happily lived independently to the end of her life in the home she warmly opened to family and friends.

Kathrine is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Jack; sister and brother-in-law, Wilma and David Wilkins, and nephew, Michael Wilkins. She is survived by her brother, Mark (Judy) Pratt; daughter, Barbara (Andy); sons, Paul (Candy) and David (Gail); grandchildren, Jason (Amada), Derek and Ellery (Lindsey) Milne, Ryan (Nikki) and Sarah Gooding, Ray Bartholomew, Helen (Steven) Gooding, Catherine (Andrew) Godard; 12 great grandchildren; nieces, Susan Lopez and Tabitha Esser; nephews, Tom Wilkins and James Pratt.

Burial will be a private service for family at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2016, 2:00 pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston Street, (805)644-3898.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com