Gerald "Tommy" Harper Goodman Sr.'s Obituary
“Tommy” Gerald Hopper Goodman Sr. was born on February 20, 1932 to Joseph Fowler and Sarah Ellen (Baker) Goodman and departed on September 12, 2015. He was born at Ketchum, Oklahoma where he attended a one room country school. After school he enlisted in the Navy. After serving in the Navy he returned to Ketchum and started working on the pipeline with his brother George. He met Florence Nickerson while working in the Laverne, Oklahoma area and they were married on March 14, 1959. They made their home in Laverne until 1965 when they moved to Miami to be closer to his mother where he resided until his passing.
Tommy loved the pipeline and traveled all over the United States making many friends along the way. He was one of the original “Tailgators” as he had a homemade grill that he always cooked his supper on while traveling and everyone was always welcome as was his home in Miami. He has adopted many kids along the way and his favorite times of his retirement was having them drop by and they would go “Pipelining” staying until late telling stories. Both of his sons followed in his footsteps and started pipelining after high school.
Tommy is preceded in passing by his parents Joseph and Sarah, his brothers; George, Joy “Pete”, Dale, Bob and Bud.
He leaves behind his wife Florence, his sister Fern, five children Margaret and her husband Carl Long, Nancy Cook, Joe and his wife Cyndee Goodman, Roy and his wife Becky Goodman, and Craig Goodman, nine grandchildren; Tommy and wife Jan Long, Stephanie and husband David Jett, Leroy and wife Tara Long, Nikki and Cody Goodman, Ty Goodman, Chris Goodman and Amaya, six great grandchildren Larissa, Jordi, and Wyatt Jett, Shae, Conner and Bradon Long, his great great grandchildren Tristan, Emily, Jenna, Jeren, Brandon, Matthew, A.J., Cali, Jenelle and Lea.
Visitation will be Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at the Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.
Tommy’s Wishes were to be cremated after Visitation.
Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Tommy’s Tribute page at www.brown-winters.com.
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