Apr 3, 2008

Dave Goodnight passed away Thursday morning, March 27, 2008 at his residence in Gainesville. He was 53 years old. Dave felt fortunate to have been adopted at birth by a loving Christian family. Dave was the second son of Charles and Louise (Slawson) Goodnight. He was their Christmas gift, having been born on December 21, 1954 in Dallas, Texas. They were able to take him home on Christmas Eve, where he was welcomed by an older brother, Paul. Dave’s father, Charles, was a Church of Christ preacher for 50 years, so the family moved around the state of Texas whenever he would take over at a different church. Dave spent most of his adult life in Texas. He worked as an EMT for a few years. He also served as sheriff of Foard County, being the youngest person ever elected sheriff in the state of Texas. He was introduced to the funeral industry by a friend and pursued this as his career in the early 1980s. He worked as a funeral director in his hometown of Killeen, Texas, for several years, and later held a position with Batesville Casket Company. On July 6, 1990, Dave married Lisa Ellis at Bull Shoals State Park. Instead of being transferred to Los Angeles, Calif., he chose to seek employment in Missouri. He and Lisa moved to Gainesville when he accepted a position with Clinkingbeard Funeral Home. For the next 18 years Dave did the job that he believed he was born to do. When Dave and Lisa married, he got a package deal. Austin was only two years old at that time. All three have been very blessed in their life together. Dave is survived by his wife Lisa, son Austin, and their dog, Scout, all of the family’s home; brother Paul Goodnight and wife Candy of Utopia, Texas, and their adult children John, Lee Ann, and Stacy; father and mother-in-law Loy and Arlene Ellis of Mountain Grove, and their adult children Debbie, Lanny, Tommy, and Vicky. He also leaves behind someone who has been like a second mother to him, Olline Yocham. Dave and Olline’s relationship started soon after he came to Gainesville, and while working together the past 17 years they truly have become family. Dave is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Louise Goodnight. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 29, at 10 a.m. at the Gainesville Church of Christ with Halbert Smith officiating. Burial was at Boatman Cemetery north of Mountain Grove.