John P. Goodknight

Funeral for John P. Goodknight, age 86, of Chattanooga, Oklahoma, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Chattanooga School Auditorium with Rev. Derek McMurtry, pastor, officiating. Mr. Goodknight passed away Monday, June 9, 2025, at The Brentwood Senior Living, in Lawton, Oklahoma. Burial will be at the Chattanooga Cemetery under the direction of Jackson Funeral Home. A visitation will be held Friday, 6 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home. John was born on March 19, 1939, to George W and Anna Lorena (Perry) Goodknight. He graduated from Chattanooga High School with the Class of 1957. He attended college at Oklahoma State University from 1957 to 1959. After returning home from college, John began farming with his dad and helped build a cattle feedlot that they operated together. However, John always had a deeper passion for farming than for cattle operations. He was particularly dedicated to growing high-quality seed wheat for other producers and became a pioneer of no-till farming in the area. John was deeply involved in Oklahoma wheat improvement and served as the founding president of Oklahoma Genetics, Inc. which supports the research and development of wheat varieties emerging from Oklahoma State University. With an engineer-like mind, John was always on the lookout for ways to improve or build his own machinery, implements, and even a basketball goal in the barn. John farmed the family home place northwest of Chattanooga, where his grandfather Albert Victor Goodknight had homesteaded. Today, his son Cody continues to operate the family farm, now in its fifth generation. He was united in marriage to Margaret Hyman on October 8, 2006, in Enid, Oklahoma. John was active in Chattanooga school events, especially the alumni association and the FFA Ag program. He enjoyed flying and was an instrument-rated pilot. He owned several planes through the years. John loved finding farm equipment in the most distant locations, always eager to fly out and pick it up. John embodied the 'work hard, play hard' spirit. He enjoyed trips, playing ping-pong, riding motorcycles, and spending time at the lake. He would often challenge his kids to foot races which he continued to win into his 60's. John enjoyed spending time with friends and family, especially a big group of cousins, spread far and wide. He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga and Antioch Baptist Church at Faxon. Survivors include his wife: Margaret Goodknight; daughter: Darla Andrew and husband Bill, of Grand Lake, Oklahoma; two sons: Charles Goodknight, of Dallas, Texas, and Cody Goodknight and wife Kara, of Chattanooga; four grandchildren, Sean Andrew and wife LaToshia, Brett Andrew and wife Thania, and Brody and Benton Goodknight; four great-grandchildren Caitlyn Hadley, Ethan Andrew, AuBree Rejman and husband Gabe, and Anthony Tazzetto; and two great-great-grandchildren, RaLeigh Andrew and Connor Hadley. John is also survived by stepdaughter Denise Saunders and her husband Roger of Park Hill, Oklahoma; three step-grandchildren, Julie Watson and her Remington, Katie Patrick and her husband Brayden, and Ryan Saunders; and two step great-grandchildren, Brinn Watson and Cash Watson. Uncle Johnny as he was affectionately known is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and many cousins. He had been previously joined in marriage to Barbara Gayle Schrick and Patricia Knight. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son: James; a sister Georgia Ann Regan and great grandson Colby Sheppard. Memorial Contributions to the Chattanooga Cemetery Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 173, Chattanooga, OK 73528 in memory of John P. Goodknight.