Henry W. "Sonny" Gookins

HENRY WILLIAM GOOKINS

August 3, 1937- February 11, 2022

Henry W. "Sonny" Gookins, 84, of Bargersville, Indiana passed away at his home on Friday, February 11, 2022, after a short illness. He was

born in Batesville, Indiana, the eldest son of Ralph B. Gookins and Fanny A. (Booth) Gookins of Napoleon, Indiana. He grew up on a working dairy farm, Ozark Farms, which was named a Hoosier Homestead Farm in July 2020. He joined the Air Force out of high school. After his service he worked for Sears and Central Hardware, where he met his wife of 51 years, Nancy L. (Gilson) Gookins. He owned and operated 2 service stations from 1971-1989. Hank then went to work for the Mel Simon family as a Superintendent of Construction for 41 malls all over the United States.

He was a member of the Scottish Rite, Murat Shriners Hospital, and the Southport Lodge. Hank was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed traveling the country with Nancy on his Honda Gold Wing Motorcycle. Hunting, trap shooting, and fishing were some of his favorite things to do, including many trips to Wyoming to hunt on the Tillard ranch.

Hank also enjoyed horses all his life and was a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association. He passed his love of horses on to his daughter and granddaughter.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, a brother R. Stephen Gookins (Rita Vollmer Gookins), and Betty (Gilson) Stiles. He is survived by his sister, Tish Burrell; wife, Nancy (Gilson) Gookins ; daughter, Shelley Peters (Tim) and son, Brett Gookins; 4 granddaughters, Willow Peters, Brittanny (Gookins) Woodward (Clint), Alex Gookins, and Samantha Gookins; and 2 great grandsons Jacob and Liam Woodward, Also, Sister-in-law Marylin (Gilson) Mauzy, and multiple nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 15th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Flinn and Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton St., Franklin, Indiana. Service will be held Wednesday, February 16th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 8903 N. Napoleon Versailles Street, Napoleon, Indiana 47034 with visitation one hour prior to service at the church. Internment will be at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Napoleon, Indiana. Memorials can be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, 8903 N. Napoleon Versailles Street, Napoleon, Indiana 47034; American Heart Association, Indiana, 6500 Technology Center Drive, Ste. 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278 or the National Kidney Foundation of Indiana, 911 E. 86th Street, #100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240. The family request that masks or face coverings be worn.

Expressions of caring and kindness may be received to the family at www.flinnmaguire.net.