JUDY MARLENE (CLARK) GOODWIN
Birth: 11 Aug 1951
Death: 3 Sep 2012
(age 61 years, 23 days)
Judy Marlene Clark was born August 11, 1951 in Fort Worth, Texas. She was one of five children born to William Odis Clark and Minnie Alice Keen. Her siblings were Larry, Glenda, Gerald and Billy.
Judy was raised on the North Side of Fort Worth. She graduated from North Side High School in 1969 and then attended a trade school where she learned short hand and typing. She then went on to work for Stratoflex Corporation for 25 years and she recently retired from Valpak of Fort Worth after 11 years of service.
Judy married Jimmy Goodwin on August 17, 1985. They built a house together in Parker County. It was across the road from Clark Cemetery on land that had once belonged to her great grandfather, Jim Clark. I can remember many times walking the Clark Cemetery grounds with Judy as she tried to recall stories that had been passed down through her Dad. Family history was important to Judy. She even served as secretary of the Clark Cemetery Association for a short time.
Judy was a highly intelligent person who loved to learn. Later in life she attended Weatherford College for a while and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in November of 1998. She had intended on getting a degree in business but her college days were cut short due to family responsibilities.
If you take all of the good qualities of Odis and Minnie Alice then you get Judy. It was during her Weatherford College days that Judy wrote a story entitled “Something Good”. She later read this story to a filled church at her Aunt Marcalea’s funeral in 2005. In the story Judy describes several family members including her own parents. Little did Judy know at the time that she was describing herself. For the past 11 years Judy faithfully attended Friendship Baptist Church every Sunday; She was creative and artistic; She was loving and family oriented; She had a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious smile; She was kind and gentle; She was a peacemaker and thoughtful of others; She had a way of making holidays seem special…all great qualities that had been passed down from her parents.
Judy was also an avid collector of antiques, especially glassware. It was a love that was no doubt inherited from her mother. Minnie Alice owned an antique store on the North Side of Fort Worth and Judy would often talk about how her mother would go “junking” in search of items for her store. Judy also loved “junking” or rather going to garage sales and thrift stores in search of her next treasure. And of course this was a pastime that Judy enjoyed with cousins and nieces.
Judy never had children of her own but she had several nieces and nephews that she loved to spoil. She never missed an opportunity to give presents…birthdays, Christmas, graduations, etc. But more importantly, Judy spent time with each and every one of her nieces and nephews. She would take them on shopping trips, garage sales, camping trips, Six Flags, sleepovers, etc. But she also enjoyed the simple things like building snowmen and playing board games or even just going to Sonic for a cherry Coke. She was never too old for anything. She was the “cool aunt”.
Judy loved her nieces and nephews so much that in about 2001 her great niece Destiny came to live with her. Judy raised Destiny as her own daughter. Destiny even called Judy “Momma”. Judy did everything for Destiny that her own mother had done for her. She was involved with the school, church and the Texas Girls Choir. She was definitely “Super Mom”.
Judy loved spending time with all of her family. Many of her cousins felt like siblings to her. She treated all family members with love and respect and could always be counted on to attend family functions—although she was probably late.
Judy is buried in Clark Cemetery next to her mother. In recent days after her passing I have listened to family, friends, and coworkers tell stories about Judy and I have noticed a common theme: her smile. No one can seem to talk about her without mentioning her smile. Judy passed away September 3, 2012 in a Dallas hospital surrounded by 25 weeping family members. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Judy was looking down and smiling that day.
Written by Tammy Brown (niece of Judy) - with the help of family.
Photo courtesy of Zachary Brown (great nephew of Judy)
Click here for VIDEO tribute
Judy was raised on the North Side of Fort Worth. She graduated from North Side High School in 1969 and then attended a trade school where she learned short hand and typing. She then went on to work for Stratoflex Corporation for 25 years and she recently retired from Valpak of Fort Worth after 11 years of service.
Judy married Jimmy Goodwin on August 17, 1985. They built a house together in Parker County. It was across the road from Clark Cemetery on land that had once belonged to her great grandfather, Jim Clark. I can remember many times walking the Clark Cemetery grounds with Judy as she tried to recall stories that had been passed down through her Dad. Family history was important to Judy. She even served as secretary of the Clark Cemetery Association for a short time.
Judy was a highly intelligent person who loved to learn. Later in life she attended Weatherford College for a while and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in November of 1998. She had intended on getting a degree in business but her college days were cut short due to family responsibilities.
If you take all of the good qualities of Odis and Minnie Alice then you get Judy. It was during her Weatherford College days that Judy wrote a story entitled “Something Good”. She later read this story to a filled church at her Aunt Marcalea’s funeral in 2005. In the story Judy describes several family members including her own parents. Little did Judy know at the time that she was describing herself. For the past 11 years Judy faithfully attended Friendship Baptist Church every Sunday; She was creative and artistic; She was loving and family oriented; She had a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious smile; She was kind and gentle; She was a peacemaker and thoughtful of others; She had a way of making holidays seem special…all great qualities that had been passed down from her parents.
Judy was also an avid collector of antiques, especially glassware. It was a love that was no doubt inherited from her mother. Minnie Alice owned an antique store on the North Side of Fort Worth and Judy would often talk about how her mother would go “junking” in search of items for her store. Judy also loved “junking” or rather going to garage sales and thrift stores in search of her next treasure. And of course this was a pastime that Judy enjoyed with cousins and nieces.
Judy never had children of her own but she had several nieces and nephews that she loved to spoil. She never missed an opportunity to give presents…birthdays, Christmas, graduations, etc. But more importantly, Judy spent time with each and every one of her nieces and nephews. She would take them on shopping trips, garage sales, camping trips, Six Flags, sleepovers, etc. But she also enjoyed the simple things like building snowmen and playing board games or even just going to Sonic for a cherry Coke. She was never too old for anything. She was the “cool aunt”.
Judy loved her nieces and nephews so much that in about 2001 her great niece Destiny came to live with her. Judy raised Destiny as her own daughter. Destiny even called Judy “Momma”. Judy did everything for Destiny that her own mother had done for her. She was involved with the school, church and the Texas Girls Choir. She was definitely “Super Mom”.
Judy loved spending time with all of her family. Many of her cousins felt like siblings to her. She treated all family members with love and respect and could always be counted on to attend family functions—although she was probably late.
Judy is buried in Clark Cemetery next to her mother. In recent days after her passing I have listened to family, friends, and coworkers tell stories about Judy and I have noticed a common theme: her smile. No one can seem to talk about her without mentioning her smile. Judy passed away September 3, 2012 in a Dallas hospital surrounded by 25 weeping family members. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Judy was looking down and smiling that day.
Written by Tammy Brown (niece of Judy) - with the help of family.
Photo courtesy of Zachary Brown (great nephew of Judy)
Click here for VIDEO tribute