Steven Goodwin

STEVE GOODWIN SHELLEY, ID -- Steven Douglas Goodwin, (Steve or Slewfoot to his friends), age 60, of Shelley, passed away April 30, 2005, at a Rehabilitation Center in Idaho Falls of heart failure due to debilitating arthritis and surgery. He was born July 11, 1944, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Ronald G. Goodwin and Inez Arave Goodwin. He grew up in the Taylor-Shelley area, attending elementary school at Taylor, then graduated from Shelley High School, where he was an active member of the varsity basketball team. His education was continued at Ricks College in Rexburg. For a brief period of time he served with the Idaho National Guard before receiving an honorary medical discharge. Residing for a short time in both Idaho Falls and Burley, Shelley felt more like home and it was there he spent the last several years of his life. Steve was a jack of all trades. As a teenager he worked on his Grandfathers’ farm at Taylor and also as a pipe mover and dry farming operation in the Ririe area. Other early work history was with Hall way Manufacturing in the production of potato harvesting equipment. He then moved to Burley, where he owned and operated a quick chicken take out and convenience store with his first wife. The marriage ended in divorced and he returned to the Idaho Falls area, where he invested in trucks and hired on to haul potatoes for Rice Trucking. He married once again, but this also ended in divorce. Working as a bartender for Rusty & Nadine’s in Idaho Falls was something he really enjoyed because it gave him the opportunity to work with the public and he was very much a people person. He enjoyed this so much he later invested with a friend in Mert’s Bar in Shelley, where he continued to tend bar and meet people. Steve, since his early teen years, had slowly been afflicted with debilitating arthritis and was forced into early medical retirement. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was active in boy scouts, the priesthood, and church softball and basketball. Steve enjoyed playing pool, especially the men’s leagues, and often sponsored both men’s and women’s teams. Because of his love for nature and the out of doors, he became passionate about golfing and managed to play a great game, overpowering the crippling arthritis. Surviving are a brother, Ronald Gary (Barbara) Goodwin of St. Anthony, and a sister, Linda (Merrill) Grover of Rigby. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and several aunts and uncles. Graveside Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2005, at the Taylor Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wood Chapel of the Pines, 273 North Ridge Avenue, Idaho Falls. Burial will be in the Taylor Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home.