Billy Dwayne Godden

© Cheyenne Star

09 Oct 2008

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Funeral services for longtime Holly, Colorado resident Billy Dwayne Godden, age 75, were held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in in Holly, Colorado.

Billy departed this life on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at the Prowers Medical Center in Lamar with his wife by his side.

Billy was born on May 21, 1933 in Canadian, Texas to Grant George Godden and Cora Areba Rowley Godden.

He received his primary education in Durham, Oklahoma.

The family then moved to Salem, Oregon before returning to Durham, Oklahoma where Billy graduated.

Mr. Godden entered into the U.S. Navy on July 10, 1951.

He attended Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma where he met and married Mary K. Overstreet. The two were married in Keyes, Oklahoma on November 21, 1956.

Billy graduated from Panhandle State University in 1958. Together the two moved to Vona, Colorado for a year and then to Towner and Sheridan Lake, Colorado.

They combined all the schools into one Plainview School in 1962, Billy was teaching shop class, and was the principal and bus driver at Plainview School. In 1970, Billy became superintendent at the Pritcher School and taught Drivers Ed; they lived there until 1981, then the family moved to Holly where Billy taught Drivers Ed.

He was also the superintendent until his retirement in 1988. The family stayed in Holly where Billy went to work for Big R until going back to Plainview in 1990. He then retired again in 1993 and went to work at Wiley Oliver Small Engines. He finally worked at the Holly Nursing Center as a maintenance man and bus driver until just a few months ago.

He was preceded in death by his father, Grant George Godden of Holly; his mother Cora Areba Rowley Godden of Durham, Oklahoma; and one sister, Evelyn Godden of Durham, Oklahoma.

Billy is survived by his wife, Mary K. Godden of Holly; three children, Gary Godden of Carbondale, Colorado; Donald {Tracy} Godden of West Valley, Utah; and Terri Kay Godden of Lamar; one grandson Keith Godden; five step grandchildren, Marc Fox, Michellee Razey, and Kurt, Brittany, and Ryan Nixon; one brother Edwin {Donna} Godden of Lincoln, Arkansas; and two nephews Dennis and Doug.

As family and friends gathered for the funeral service, and organ prelude was played by Candy Plummer. Reverend Moorman began the service by welcoming everyone to the service to show their love and respect to the family. Prior to the first song, Rev. Moorman offered a prayer of thanksgiving, then Gail Specht sang "One day at a Time": accompanying herself with a guitar.

Rev. Moorman then read the 23rd Psalm, Ecclesiastes 3, and scriptures from the book of Revelation. Gail Specht followed Reverend Moorman scripture with another song "In the Garden." Rev Moorman then read Bill's Eulogy and concluded his message by saying that Bill lived out God's commandments in his every day life. A taped vocal selection "When I Get Where I'm Going" was played and Reverend Moorman completed the service with a benediction and final prayer.

Family and close friends then proceeded to the Holly Cemetery for the graveside committal service, where Reverend Moorman offered some additional words of comfort.

Serving as casket bearers were David Lundberg, Jr., Don Lening, Richard Scott, Lonnie Bever, Rich Siegfried and Randy Hetrick.

The Holly V.F.W. Post #428 performed full military honors and presented the flag to his wife Mary K.

The family then preceded to the Methodist Church for a memorial meal provided by the United Methodist Church Women and an additional time of fellowship.

Visitation and funeral services for Billy D. Godden were under the direction of Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Holly providing Sensitivity, Compassion and Respect.

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