Wilmington, VT – Born the 28th of March, 1949 in Gardner, Massachusetts, Marshall “Marty” Ellis Goodell was the son of Marshall Terrance Goodell and Helen Mildred Ellis. He grew up in Athol, Massachusetts where he attended local schools, played ball with other local neighborhood children and enjoyed episodes of “Howdy Doody,” “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Gunsmoke.”
1969 began his military career. In the Army, he spent time overseas in Germany. Upon his return, he accepted employment at Mount Snow as a lift operator eventually becoming a welder. Later, he ventured out as a private contractor welder and took jobs in California, Colorado, Michigan and the Dominican Republic. In more recent years, he enjoyed making delivers for FedEx as a custom critical driver. Marty volunteered for the Wilmington Fire Department for 33 years where he formed many close friendships and stories of comedic proportion.
Marty enjoyed hiking, skiing, the ocean, road trips, good books and peanut butter cookies. Some of the happiest memories of his life were formed on the shores of Rye Beach, his time with the fire department and in the company of his devoted family of which he was immensely proud and vigilant.
Marty passed away peacefully on January 10th under the adept and devoted care of the staff at Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington, Vermont thus ending his 11 year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
An exemplary son, brother, husband and father, Marty is survived by his devoted wife, Catherine Esther Goodell (Boyd), his daughter, Jennifer Dawn Goodell, son, Craig Michael Goodell sister Mary Jane Spencer (Goodell) and her husband, Maurice Spencer. He leaves four grandchildren- Brialyn Renee, Ethan Michael, Keiron Christopher and Ellyanna Lea as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his loving parents, Marshall Terrance and Helen Mildred Goodell and his sister Marjorie Goodell.
Services with military honors will be held at the Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home on Saturday January 28 at 1pm , a memorial reception will follow the service at the Wilmington Fire House.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wilmington Fire Department or the Vermont Veteran’s Home in care of the Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
