RAY GOODFELLOW

1932 - 2024

RAY GOODFELLOW Ray Goodfellow, (Dec. 21, 1932-Dec. 12, 2024): a man after God's heart, family man, musician, athlete, poet, hardworking farmer. Don passed away after a brief stay in the Lyons Hospital from multiple organ failure. He is cherished by his children: Kristen Higgins, Beatrice, NE, and Teresa and Joel Miller, St. John, KS; eight grandchildren: Jenny and Derek Grandfield, Kate Higgins, Laura and Tad Lazechko, Mike and Tara Higgins, Jim and Callie Higgins, Kim and Dylan Behrends, Dustin Miller, Grant and Courtney Miller; and 19 great-grandchildren. Don married his college sweetheart, Eula Mae Murrey, on May 17, 1956 and they enjoyed 65 years together. They began their life as a couple after Don served one year in International Voluntary Service in Iraq. They then moved to Ohio where Don volunteered one more year as the farm manager for Heifer International. He worked as a seagoing cowboy delivering a boat load of heifers to war torn families in Germany. He participated in and enjoyed watching many different sports, but his true athletic love was track. He competed in track in high school, college and beyond, running in master's events and road races. Music was a big part of Don's long life. He sang his first solo at age 3, and sang or played his trombone through all his school years and well into his 80's. He preferred listening to music over watching TV or many other past times. Don and Eula Mae loved traveling together. They went on mission trips, disaster relief clean ups, group tour vacations around the world, motorcycle trips, and countless destinations to watch their grandchildren participate in music or athletic events. He faithfully served in numerous capacities in his church and community choir, men's Bible study, McPherson College Alumni Board, Cedars Board, Gideons and various farm organizations. Placing his hope and trust in Jesus was of utmost importance to Don. He said many times he wanted this to be his legacy. He was preceded in death by his his wife Eula Mae, his parents David and Gladys Goodfellow, sisters and brothers-in-law Mildred (Ralph) Helmer, Marjorie (Oltie) Smith, Arlene (Bud) Hendricks, son Greg, son-in-law Kirk Higgins, great grandson Archer Higgins. Visitation will be Saturday, December 21, 2024, from 3:00 until 5:00 P.M., at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons, with family present. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, with Pastor Chris Deeds officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Ebenezer United Methodist Church or Heifer International in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.