Obituary for Elzie “Hoot” Goodno

Elzie Goodno

December 13, 1925 – November 28, 2024′

E. E. “Hoot” Goodno passed away Thursday, November 28, 2024 in Ponca City, OK. He was 98. The family has entrusted the care to Trout Funeral Home and Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

A graveside service with military honors to celebrate Hoot’s life will be held at Newkirk Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024 with Chaplin Gary Wilburn officiating.

Hoot was born in Uncas, OK on December 13, 1925, to Acie Franklin and Maude Fidelia (Huffman) Goodno. Hoot was the third of eight children. As he had a passion for all things western and or cowboy. Growing up he was affectionately called “Hoot”, after Hoot Gibson by all who knew him, this really stuck through the years, as “Hoot” was all most people knew him by.

Hoot grew up on a farm in Middleton, OK north of Newkirk, OK. After completing 8th grade, he began helping his family farm. In February 1944, during WWII, he joined the United States Navy. After graduating from bootcamp at NTS Farragut, Idaho, he was stationed on USS Hydrographer (AGS-2). He was honorably discharged in May 1946. He arrived at the OKC bus station and hitchhiked home to Newkirk, saying when you’re walking carrying a seabag, it wasn’t long, most would stop for you.

After his discharge he married Virginia Sue (Harris) Goodno on July 19, 1946, in Windfield, KS. They had met just before he joined the Navy and continued to write letters the two years he was away. They shared 69 wonderful years of marriage.

Hoot went to work as a truck driver for Groendyke in his early years, then Glass Trucking in various positions throughout the years. The last 10 years before retiring, Hoot and Sue moved to Mazie, OK where he was plant manager for Jackson Clip part of Glass Trucking. Upon retiring they decided to move back to Ponca City to be close to their family.

Hoot had many hobbies, and they were even busier after retirement. These included camping, fishing, woodworking, he loved horses, gathering cattle, horse races, mowing his yard every two days! Dancing, he and Sue were amazing western swing dancers. He was a math whiz, you did not want to go up against him in dominos, cards etc. He was a speed reader and would go through a paperback western book each evening. Hands down if we could have got him entered on Wheel a Fortune or Jeopardy, he would have won big as we watched him do it at home.

Our grandpa/dad was diagnosed with macular degeneration several years back. Going for monthly injections for the past 7-8 years. Yet he managed to live in his home and mow his own grass up until he was 97. This did not stop him from using his phone where he felt for buttons or got help dialing us. Determined would be an understatement as his hearing was severely impaired. He was fiercely independent, and he loved his dogs that he tended to as well.

Hoot is survived by his son, Larry of Broken Arrow; granddaughter Lori (John) Goodno-Sindelar of Ponca City; grandsons, Gary (Brook) of Ponca City, Wyman Goodno of Honeybrook, PA., Joey, Sam, Jake Goodno of Tulsa; granddaughters, Misty (Adam) Goodno-Hobbs of Newkirk, sister Nancy (Ralph) Davenport of Newkirk, Vera (Loyd) Case of Newkirk.

Preceded in death by his wife of 69 years Virginia Sue Goodno; parents; son, Lonnie Goodno; daughter, Wynona (Cookie) Leigh Goodno; brothers, Leroy (Viva) Goodno, Robert Goodno of Newkirk; sisters, Flossie (Harold) Kirkendall of Newkirk, Wilma (Hugh) Alexader of MI, Lehta (Albert) Young of MI.

The very best grandpa there ever was, will be so missed and always loved. Memorial contributions can be made to the Humanity Hospice, 445 Fairview Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home