Benny Goodman

Funeral services for Benny Lee Goodman will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 29 at the First Baptist Church in Prue with Rev. Garry McDevitt officiating. Burial will follow at the Prairie View Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

Benny was born on May 1, 1932 in Marshall, Searcy County, Arkansas. He was the son of Earl and Jewell (Watts) Goodman. Benny moved with his family at an early age to Prue where he was raised and attended school, graduating from Prue High School in 1950. Benny's experiences through his education in Prue School formulated his desire to become a teacher for his career. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Education after four years attending Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

After completion of his college degree and earning his teaching certificate, Benny returned to Prue where he was involved in the Prue School System for over forty-years. He was an industrial arts and business teacher for several years as he taught shorthand and typing as well as woodworking and other skills. He was later promoted to Principal at Prue High School until his retirement. Benny was loved by his students and other faculty members alike. He impacted the lives of numerous children through the years as a teacher, coach and principal. Benny was honored in 1980 for serving as the Head Basketball Coach for the Prue Rockets for twenty-three years. Being raised during the years of the great depression, Benny learned at an early age about making something from nothing and shared this philosophy during his teaching years insuring that all children could participate regardless of family social status or background. He continued after his retirement from Prue School, attending school functions and sporting events and loved seeing the Prue Rockets win.

Benny was described by his family and friends as a respectful, giving and honest man who could be a tad bit ornery and enjoyed playing jokes on those around him. He enjoyed traveling back to his birthplace and visiting in Searcy County, Arkansas. He enjoyed hunting, especially, raccoon and bird hunting. At the time of his passing he had four dogs, Sue, Hoot, Rex and Blue. He also loved vegetable gardening and sharing his bounty with family and friends. He also enjoyed watch western movies on television. As a nearly lifelong Prue area resident, Benny was known throughout the community as a respected member of the community.

Benny is survived by his brother and wife, Bobby Joe and Wanda Gay Goodman of Prue, Oklahoma; numerous other family and friends who will mourn his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Paul Ray Goodman and Rev. Eugene Goodman; and a sister, Mazie June Goodman Horton.

Family request donations in the memory of Benny Goodman to the First Baptist Church of Prue, Oklahoma, PO BOX 180, Prue, Oklahoma 74060.

Copyright Notice

© 2018 (Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc.)

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This obituary is a work protected under international and federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this compiled work may be reproduced, altered or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

The author hereby grants the newspaper the right to publish the compiled work on the dates and location provided in the submission details and further grants to the newspaper the right to reproduce the work electronically in any website or digital medium owned or controlled by the newspaper provided the copy is not altered or modified in any way. The funeral home's website domain must accompany any reproduction of the work. The work must not be used for or by any person for direct commercialized gain in competition with the author, the funeral home, or their respective businesses.

Privacy Disclaimer

The information contained in this Tribute Wall is intended solely for the private use of the families and friends of the deceased to support each other and honour, respect and pay tribute to the memory of the deceased.

Any and all other use is strictly prohibited. Without limiting the foregoing, any reproduction, distribution of the information contained herein, nor any contact or solicitation of any person identified in this work, nor any attempt to use the information in the work is prohibited.