Willa Mae (Smith) Gooden
August 4, 1937 - July 23, 2017

Willa Mae (Smith) Gooden, 79 of Downing, Missouri passed away at the Scotland County Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Missouri.
The daughter of William and Ethel Maye (Carter) Smith, she was born on August 4, 1937 in rural Granger, Missouri. She was a graduate of the Granger High School in Granger, Missouri. On May 27, 1956 at the United Methodist Church in Granger, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Richard Eugene Gooden and to this union two sons were born, Michael and James.
Willa Mae is survived by her two sons, Michael Gooden and partner, Timothy Grannemann of Columbia, Missouri and Jim Gooden and wife, Tracey of Downing, Missouri; grandchildren, Joel Gooden of Downing, Missouri and special friend, Shayla Watson of Queen City, Missouri and Megan Newlin and husband, Daniel of Centralia, Missouri; one great granddaughter, Olivia Grace Newlin of Centralia, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Judy Gooden of Hannibal, Missouri; nieces and nephews and other family members.
Willa Mae is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Eugene Gooden on January 7, 1994; two brothers, Waldo and Vincent Smith and one brother-in-law, Robert Edward Gooden.
Willa was a very faithful member of the Downing United Methodist Church in Downing, Missouri where she served as organist for a number of years. She was also the City Clerk for Downing, Missouri for numerous years.
Willa was very devoted to her family. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. Her grandchildren were the twinkle in her eye and she loved spending time with her family.
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Funeral services will be held at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. with Marilyn Fitzgerald, Pastor of the Scotland County Larger Parrish officiating. Music will be special CD selections of "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace". Pallbearers will be Joel Gooden, Daniel Newlin, Weston Smith, Timothy Grannemann, Alan Garrett and Terry Anderson. Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2017 one hour prior to the funeral services from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for Schuyler County Cancer Relief Fund. Burial will be in the Downing City Cemetery in Downing, Missouri. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri.