Claude Goodman Jr., age 85 of Harrison, Arkansas died on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was born in St. Joe, Arkansas on September 6, 1938 to Claude Goodman and Mary Reed Goodman. He was married for 64 years to Verna Jean Dodson.

He grew up in St. Joe and graduated from St. Joe High School in 1957. He married Jean in 1960 and moved to Eureka, California where they had four children; Cindy, Jennifer, Roger and Janet. Claude worked at Firestone for 13 years and then moved back home to Arkansas where he spent several years being selfemployed in the logging business. He became a truck driver and hauled cross-country for Willis Shaw and JB Hunt Trucking Company for many years. His most favorite job was working for Genesis Stonework’s in Sylmar, California as a truck driver where he got to spend the last 20 years of his working career with one of his favorite people, his son, Roger. Those who knew him know that he thoroughly enjoyed working and being around people and people loved being in his presence. That’s what kept him getting up early in the mornings and hitting the road every day until he was 80 years old. He never wanted to retire.

He made helping people his hobby. His favorite thing to do was to help those in need, whether it was picking up hitchhikers to give them a ride, pulling over on the side of the road to give a hand to a stranded driver or paying for an employee’s food. He did things for others and never asked or expected anything in return. But what he loved the most was doing for his kids. He made himself available to them 24/7. They could call anytime day or night and he was always happy to hear from them. All four never doubted his willingness to help, or ever wondered if he loved them. The words and sound of his voice “Love you Kid” will forever rest in our hearts and soul as those were his parting words until the end. He was literally a “Good Man” with a kind and beautiful soul.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Goodman; son, Roger Goodman (Loraine); daughters, Cindy Slay (Jerry Joe Harris), Jennifer Brightwell (Ronnie) and Janet Hill (Tim); grandchildren, Alex Gardner (Virgil), Sam Slay, Chad Brightwell (Laurie), Kevin Brightwell, Ashley Kozmann (Kevin), Aubrey Goodman, Ryan Goodman, Amber Voigt-Scott and Landon Voigt (Kristin); great-grandchildren, Peyton Slay, Avery Brightwell, Austin Brightwell, Madelynn Gardner, Evelynn Gardner and Benson Brightwell; sisters, Claudia Hastings and Sarah Younger (Charles); and brother, Russell Goodman (Sue).

He is preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Mary Goodman; brother, Leroy Goodman; sisters, Janie Kinslow and Mary Helen Barnett; and his greatgrandson, Logan Alex Voigt.

Funeral services for him were 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at Roller-Coffman Chapel in Marshall, Arkansas with Bro. Shane Warden officiating. Visitation was 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 22, 2024 in the Chapel. Burial was in Stone /Keeling Cemetery near St. Joe. Pallbearers were Roger Goodman, Landon Voigt, Chad Brightwell and Sam Slay. Honorary pallbearers were Ryan Goodman, Ronnie Brightwell, Tim Hill, Kevin Brightwell and Jerry Joe Harris.