Lenita Pearl Goodrick was born February 19, 1924 at her parents home in Grant County, Oklahoma to Howard E. Goodrick and Pansy Louise (Covey) Goodrick and passed from this life on March 5, 2022 in Enid, Oklahoma at the age of 98 years. Lenita attended grade school at Richland School District 29 in Grant County and then high school in Medford, Oklahoma graduating with the class of 1942. She grew up in the Sunnyside Church of God (Anderson).
She fell in love with Milfred Reser and they married on October 14, 1945 a few days after he returned from World War II. To this union two daughters were born, Willa Jeanette and Linda Janell. Lenita joined Milfred in worship at the Central Christian Church in Caldwell after their marriage and was very actively involved in the church family, teaching Sunday School classes, singing in the choir and attended Christian Women’s Fellowship.
Lenita worked at the Grant County ASCS office while Milfred was serving in the Army and then again after the girls started school until she had completed thirty years of service as a program clerk. After retiring from the ASCS office, Lenita started the young adult Sunday School Class named the Cornerstone Class. She was very passionate about this class and loved each and every member and their families. She taught 34 years because she wanted to give God more time than she had given the government. She hosted class parties and planning sessions and many special events many times in her home or at the church. She also worked every Saturday afternoon at the Caldwell Sale Barn with Milfred.
She was a great homemaker, farm wife, mother and grandmother. She hosted family gatherings, sale barn employee Christmas dinners, invited Daddy’s Army buddies for get togethers, neighborhood brunches and made sure everyone felt special and knew they were loved and very well fed. Her homemade noodles will be greatly missed.
Lenita is preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Pansy Goodrick, her parents-in-law, Earl and Carrie Reser, her husband of 56 years, Milfred, two brothers, Laverne Goodrick and Llewelyn Goodrick, brother-in-law Melvin Reser, sister-in-law Wilma (Don) Courtright as well as many other relatives.
Survivors include daughter Willa (Coy) Berends of Gate, OK and Linda (Mike) McIlwee of Wamego, KS, formerly of Enid, OK. Grandchildren Dan (Lynn) Adams of Chino Hills, CA, Steve (Sandie) Adams of Sicklerville, NJ, Larry (Julie) Thrower of McCall, ID, Mark (Dana) Thrower of Fairmont, OK, Mike (Rebecca) Adams of Centertown, AR, Carrie (Jarad) McIlwee-Bahr of Meridian, KS, Chelsea McIlwee of Chicago, IL, and Andrew (Jenna) McIlwee of Manhattan, KS. Great-Grandchildren: Zoe Adams, Zachary Adams, Kristen Adams, Greg (Brooke) Adams, Aaron Adams, Ethan Thrower, Ava Thrower, Danaka Thrower, Dayton Thrower, Blake Thrower, Broden Adams, Brenner Adams, Brodie Bahr, Braelyn Bahr, Vincent Tripoli-McIlwee; great-great-grandchildren: Maverick, Jack and Aiden. Cousins: Merna Sanburn, Mervin Goodrick, Donice Stiers, and Donna Goodrick as well as nieces, nephews and a host of extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2022 at the Central Christian Church in Caldwell, Kansas with Dr. Dan Price officiating. Interment will follow at the Caldwell City Cemetery in Caldwell, KS.
Memorials may be made to Elara Caring Hospice or to the Central Christian Church and sent in care of the mortuary.
