Jan Goodner

Jan Goodner Jan Goodner, 56, of Boise, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 after a long battle with cancer. Jan was born in Denver, Colo. on Jan. 9, 1952 to Charles and Frances Watkins. At the age of nine, she moved with her family to Fort Worth, Texas. After graduating from Western Hills High School in Fort Worth, Jan attended nursing school at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and received her B.S. in Nursing in 1974. While attending UNC, Jan met Bill Goodner, and the two were married in August 1974. This marriage, filled with tremendous love and friendship, lasted more than 30 years until Bill's death in 2005. In 1976 Jan and Bill moved to Idaho Falls where their two children were born, and Jan began working in a neonatal intensive care unit. In 1981 the family moved to Boise, and Jan entered the first of her 27 years working in the NICU at St. Luke's Hospital in downtown Boise. The first half of her tenure at St. Luke's was focused on bedside care. Later, she transitioned to the position of patient care coordinator. In this role she worked with parents and families to help them gain resources, skills and the confidence to care for their premature babies. Jan had a particular passion for helping mothers learn to breast feed their newborn babies. Jan also found joy caring for, supporting and encouraging her own children. She often said (and demonstrated) that being a good mother was her highest priority. Jan spent numerous hours as a volunteer for her children's schools and sports teams. Jan was an avid runner and especially enjoyed chatting over coffee after a morning workout. She also enjoyed cooking and gardening. If she was not tending her flower beds, she was often busy harvesting vegetables to include in her delicious homemade meals. Although she was always coaxing those around her to eat nutritious, unprocessed foods, she made what are arguably the world's tastiest chocolate chip cookies. Jan is survived by her father, Charles Watkins of Fort Worth, Texas; brother, Tim Watkins of Sarasota, Fla.; sister, Peggy Benedik of Laramie, Wyo.; son, Duane Goodner of Boise, Idaho; and daughter, Lisa Alley of Denver, Colo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her mother, Frances; and a sister, Sharon, who died in childhood. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, September 23 at the Idaho Botanical Garden (2355 North Penitentiary Rd.) in Boise. Arrangements under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel. Memorial donations can be made to the Women's and Children's Alliance (720 West Washington St., Boise, 83702) and the Ronald McDonald House (101 Warm Springs Ave., Boise, 83712).