Clayton GOODEN

GOODEN, Clayton with the passing of Dr. E. Clayton Gooden (95) on August 14, 2017, the world has lost a bold voice that reached into the pain of humanity, to transform us and knit us together into the good and the beautiful. Born in Indiana in 1921 to Elmer Harrison and Cora Mae Gooden, Clayton and family then moved to a farm near Glasgow, Kentucky.  As a young boy, Clayton worked and played on the family farm during the Great Depression and rode his horse to school. He served in the Army as a medic and photographer in Europe during World War II. Returning from the horrors of war, Clayton vowed to devote his life to something positive. He earned a degree from Transylvania University in Kentucky, then Lexington Theological Seminary, and later earned a doctorate in Ethics and Ecology from Claremont School of Theology. He devoted his life to serving as a Disciples of Christ minister in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and Saguaro Christian Church in Tucson. In addition to his sermons, always filled with great substance, Clayton graced his congregations with warmth, humor, and endearing Kentucky wisdom. In college, he met his beloved wife, Doris Lumpkin. Throughout their 65 years of marriage, Doris, a nursing educator, worked in several hospitals including Tucson Medical Center. And how they loved to play Scrabble, go camping, watch UofA basketball and football, and laugh with family and friends. Clayton's pastoral gifts were augmented by his abilities as an artist and author.  His love of wildlife, particularly wild birds, spoke to the wild soul in him. He was never happier than when on a hiking trail, binoculars dangling from his neck, his eyes searching the trees for movement. Clayton is the author of several books, including A Fork in the Road, Old Kentucky Talk, and a collection of poems, To a Mud Puddle. His artistic talents in painting, woodworking, and ceramics, appear at the Desert Museum and Kartchner Caverns. Doris preceded him in death, also his beloved sons, David and John. Surviving him are his daughter, Annell and his son, James; grandchildren, Andrea (Alberto), Cristina (Marland) and Andrew; daughters-in-law, Anne and Elizabeth; great-grandchildren, Tay, Amaria, Kayla, Elyssa and nieces, nephews, grand-nieces/ nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at Saguaro Christian Church, 8302 E. Broadway, Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. Gifts may be given to Saguaro Christian Church and the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL.