Mesa AZ – Leonard J Goodell, Sr., a caring husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, brother and veteran, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, with his beloved wife at his side. He was born on July 29, 1932 in Tucson, AZ. Later, while living in Albuquerque, New Mexico he attended Highland High School. After serving in the United States Air Force Reserves in California during the Korean War, he earned his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of New Mexico.
Leonard was naturally athletic, waterskiing, and even riding a mountain bike on an advanced singletrack trail in Moab, Utah on his 60th birthday. His family of 5 often enjoyed downhill skiing at Purgatory in Durango, CO, backpacking in the Colorado mountains, camping and even spending weekends at the cabin he built in the Manzano Mountains in New Mexico.
After a long career as President of Mountain States Life Insurance Company in Albuquerque, NM, as well as years working in land development with his business partner, Leonard retired and he and his wife Connie moved to Spring Creek Ranch outside of Mancos, Colorado where he ditched the 3-piece suit for jeans, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. There they enjoyed the solitude afforded by the sprawling land, the energy of the nearby mountains, and breathtaking beauty of the herds of elk, wild turkey, and other wildlife that frequented their meadows.
He worked physically hard on the ranch, irrigating, raising hay, caring for horses, and maintaining the land. He and Connie built a house with a deck overlooking a pond where family members would ice skate in the winter, while the dogs would play chase. From Leonard’s vision the two created a space where many special memories were shared by family and friends. It was the place where milestone birthdays and even some weddings were held, and where many Christmas presents were torn open by the wood burning fireplace. Leonard and Connie took pride in welcoming extended family and friends to enjoy the wonders of their ranch; shooting skeet, riding on four wheelers or horses, spying animals through binoculars or watching hummingbirds on the porch, where Leonard might be seen reading the newspaper, a book or smoking a cigar with a dog by his feet.
Leonard was always involved in his community, from serving on the local Methodist Church, the Cherry Creek Irrigation Ditch Board, the Grants State Bank, to being charitable and giving to individuals in need.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rolland and Marybelle Goodell, and his sister Eileen Collyns. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Constance Goodell, his children Brad Goodell (Margaret), Craig Goodell (Rebecca) and Lenny Goodell (Claudia), 5 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and brother Fred Goodell.
In Leonard’s final years he and Connie lived with his sons and then in a beautiful assisted living community in Phoenix, Arizona where he enjoyed sitting outside reading and napping in the sun.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 9th at 10am at Clearwater Ahwatukee assisted living community located at 15815 S 50th St, Phoenix AZ 85048. The service will also be streamed live on Zoom. Please send email to lenny.j.goodell@gmail.com to request the Zoom information.
