Linda L. Goodman

Linda L. Goodman, 88, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri died Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Lutheran Home Hospice Unit. She was born March 7, 1937, in Du Quoin, Illinois, to Lawrence and Mildred Dudley Gilliam. She and Kenneth H. Goodman were married January 31, 1976, in Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death on July 10, 1997. Linda was a 1955 graduate of Du Quoin Illinois High School. She was also a member of the first graduating class from Barnes Hospital School of Nursing in 1958. For 38 years, Linda served as a registered nurse. She was a school nurse for the Cape Girardeau Public Schools from 1967-1996, serving 15 of those years as the head school nurse where she authored the AIDS Policy for the district. Among her many accomplishments, she wrote the Practical Nursing program for the Vo-Tech School in Cape. She was a Missouri State Teachers Association Dept. of Nursing board member for six years and board president for one year. She worked with the Missouri Highway Traffic Safety - Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Program for 18 years. For several years, she taught CPR through the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association, and for several more years she worked part-time at Southeast Hospital. After retirement from nursing, she worked part-time for 18 years in the SEMO University Bookstore. Linda volunteered at the Community Food Pantry and St. Francis Medical Center. For many years, she went on mission trips through her church to Appalachia to help distressed communities and was involved in various other church activities. In later years, she was a beloved member of the prayer shawl ministry at the Lutheran Home and served on the resident board at Saxony Village. In her spare time, she was an avid reader and loved history. She was a member of Maple United Methodist Church. Survivors include three daughters: Leslie (Jim) Meyer of Momence, Illinois, Cindy (Tom) Swigonski of Cape Girardeau, and Karen (Dave) Bolen of St. Louis; two stepdaughters: Debra (Tim) Coffman of Anna, Illinois, and Debbie (Dan) Eaves of Du Quoin; sister, Judy (Bob, deceased) Payne of Du Quoin; five grandchildren, Christopher J. (Lexi) Orta, Britney (Curtis) Ackman, Jennifer N. Orta, Joseph J. (Madison) Meyer, and Mariah Schott; eight step-grandchildren, Heather Coffman, Kyle (Jeanna) Coffman, Mandy (Troy) Phillips, Gretchen (Frankie) James, Carry (Chantel) Bailey, Kaitlyn Swigonski, Samantha (Mike) Failoni, and Nick Swigonski; 20 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents. Visitation will be from 10:00 am to noon on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will follow at noon Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the funeral home with the Rev. Jim Cooper officiating. Entombment will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau. Memorial contributions may be given to Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com

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Linda L. Goodman

March 7, 1937 - January 21, 2026