Mary K. Goode

Mary Kathryn Goode, 77, of California, MO, formerly of Otterville, MO, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 18, 2019 at her home.

Born on October 15, 1942 in Sedalia, she was the youngest of three daughters of Louis Alexander and M. Louise (Page) Mertgen.

Mary was a 1960 graduate of Otterville High School.

That same year on December 17, at the United Church of Christ in Florence, she married Charles D. Goode. To this union three daughters were born.

After high school, Mary attended beauty school and worked in Sedalia for about a year. Then in 1966, she began working part-time at the local post office. She continued a 26 year career with the United States Postal Service, mainly as the  Otterville Postmaster, retiring in 1992.

Mary and Charles lived most of their life in the Otterville community, only recently moving to California to be near their daughter. She was a longtime member of the Otterville Presbyterian Church, where she served in many capacities including on the Session. After moving to California she joined the United Church of Christ.

During her many years in Otterville, Mary served the community in a multitude of ways. She was instrumental in establishing the Otterville Pool and was dedicated to helping others. She regularly visited and helped neighbors, family and friends. The theme of her life could be called “faith in action.”

She was active in the Otterville Senior Center and the Cooper County Historical Society. She enjoyed many hobbies including reading, gardening, playing the piano, decorating her home and yard, and traveling. She and Charles had camped in 49 states.

After her loved ones, her passion was family history and genealogy and she authored several family history books as well as the book for the Otterville Sesquicentennial. She was instrumental in organizing three separate trips to Germany to meet the treasured relatives she had found through her research. She was a lifelong learner and was always thinking, doing, moving, and helping. She never sat still for long.

Surviving are her husband of 58 years, Charles D. Goode, of the home; three daughters: Karen Varvel (Bryan), of Olathe, KS, Connie LaBarbera (Mike), of Ashland, MO, and Charla Friedmeyer (Brad), of California, MO; nine grandchildren: Ryan Keele, Nicholas Varvel, Christopher Varvel, Caris LaBarbera, Caleb LaBarbera, Carver LaBarbera, Cory Friedmeyer, Tucker Friedmeyer and Walker Friedmeyer; two great-grandchildren: Madison and Mason Keele; and a sister, Betty Woodall, of Florence.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Beverly Hardey.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2019 at Heckart Funeral Home in Sedalia, with Jeff Page and the Rev. Russell Cobb officiating.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

A private burial will be in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Otterville.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Otterville Senior Center or to a charity of the donor’s choice.