Sally Ellen Goodrow

1933 - 2022

Sally Ellen Goodrow died peacefully in her sleep on July 11, 2022 following a short illness. She was 88.

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on July 16, 1933, Sally was the first born of Ben and Sara Lewis' two children. In 1943 the family relocated to Michigan and Sally graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1951. After convincing her father that she needed to further her education, Sally graduated from Wayne State University in 1959 with a Bachelors of Social Work. She went on to get her Masters of Social Work from Michigan State University in 1972.

Sally married the Rev. John H. Goodrow on August 29, 1959 in Ferndale, Michigan at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church. They began their lives together in Detroit, Michigan where their daughters were born. In 1962 they moved to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan when her husband became the rector at St. John's Episcopal Church. Shortly thereafter they welcomed a son.

Sally began her career in social work by working for the Michigan Children's Aid Society in Detroit in 1960. After being a stay-at-home mom for 6 years, she continued her career with the Gratiot Isabella Intermediate School District and finally with the Alma Public Schools. She retired from the Alma Public Schools in 1994 but continued to work on an on-call basis until 2000.

In the early 1970's Sally's husband, Fr. John Goodrow, started an emergency service fund based out of St. John's Episcopal Church. This fund served the people of Isabella County and CMU students, particularly married students, providing food and emergency assistance. After his death in 1985, Sally continued this work as a memorial to her late husband and grew the fund into what came to be known as the John H. Goodrow Memorial Fund.

The Goodrow Fund played a prominent role in Sally's life. She formed a board of directors that she chaired for many years. She created a partnership with Listening Ear and under her leadership the fund eventually became a United Way affiliate. Sally assembled a group of loyal volunteers who worked tirelessly to keep the work of the Goodrow Fund moving forward. From fundraisers to daily phone calls from those in need, Sally always said it is the volunteers who really make it happen. The Goodrow Fund existed for 33 years until 2020 when Sally relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska to be closer to family. The Goodrow Fund was supported by fundraisers, individuals, grants, local churches and the United Way. Through this work Sally touched the lives of many.

Sally loved to travel and enjoyed many adventures as a young woman. Later in life she enjoyed winters in Florida on Marco Island with her good friend, Peg Hicks. She loved to quilt and was an avid reader. In her later years Sally enjoyed her Mt. Pleasant condo community where she had many good friends.

Sally is survived by her daughters Katherine (Matthew) Andrews of Lincoln, NE, and Ellen (Frank) McCabe of Hawthorn Woods, IL, her son, John Goodrow of Sparta, MI, four grandchildren, Sara and Ross Andrews, Emma and Samantha McCabe, and her favorite pup, Jimmy.

In addition to her husband and parents, Sally was preceded in death by her brother, Ben, and his wife, Shirley, and her nephew, Brian.

A celebration of Sally's life will be held on Saturday, August 13 beginning at 11 am at St. John's Episcopal Church, 206 W. Maple Street, Mt. Pleasant. A light luncheon will follow in the parish hall adjacent to the church with burial at 2 pm at Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John's Episcopal Church (https://givingtools.com/give/3618 click on Memorials) or The Sally and John Goodrow Fund (https://www.mpacf.org/goodrow click on Donate Now).