Martha Marty Gwendolyn Goddard, 88

Martha Marty Gwendolyn Goddard left us here on this earth to be with her Lord and Savior on Sept. 25, 2010. She was born on Feb. 22, 1922, (2/22/22) to James Michael and Gwendolyn Elizabeth Ekiss in Martinez, Calif. Jim was a goldminer working as a roughneck on a ship to South Africa where he met Gwen, an English girl. She was working as a governess for a family who owned a diamond mine in South Africa. Jim was a frontiersman who had lived in Dawson, Yukon Territory, hunting grizzlies. They first lived in California where Jim dredged gold on the American River. He gave Gwen a horse for a wedding present. They moved to Denver, Colo., where Marty and her sister Lillian grew up, graduating from East High School. Marty s dad, lovingly called Pop, loved to fish and the family spent their summers fishing the rivers and the streams of the Colorado Mountains. Marty married Paul Lacey Goddard Jr., a Navy pilot during World War II at the Naval base in Corpus Christi, Texas, where Paul was stationed. Marty s mom was the only woman who attended the wedding. They lived in Texas until the war ended. Paul then moved back to Colorado where he graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden with a degree in geological engineering. They lived in Evergreen, Colo., for a few years in a small cabin before moving to Denver. Paul worked in the mining industry in many of the small towns of Colorado: Blackhawk, Central City, Leadville, Red Mountain, Durango, Ouray, Silverton, Gillett, Cripple Creek and Telluride, to name a few. Marty worked for five years for Mountain Bell Telephone Company where her Pop also worked. They lived in Denver for many years where they raised their two children, Diane and Paul. The family enjoyed skiing in the winter and spent summers on a ranch in the Colorado Rockies between Nederland and Rollinsville. Marty and her family moved to northern California in the 1960s where Paul had his business, Coronado Engineering. Paul sold mining equipment until his retirement. Marty and Paul then moved to Bigfork. Their son Paul designed and built them a home on the Swan River which was truly their most loved place on earth. Marty enjoyed knitting, sewing and cooking. She spent many hours working crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. Marty was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her son, Paul; her sister, Lillian May Anderson, and her husband, Andy. Lilly was a special sister and aunt and Marty s granddaughter was named in her honor. Marty was also preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Florence Davis, and her husband, Don; and her niece, Linda Middelleton. Marty is survived by her daughter, Diane Paulsen, of Bigfork, and her two children, Aurora Paulsen of Portland, and Austin Paulsen of Bigfork; her granddaughter, Lacey Ann Brown, and her husband, Gary, and their three children, Jade, Reese and Trent, of Rossmoor, Calif.; her niece, Gwendolyn Anderson Schollard, and her husband, Bob, of Waldeboro, Maine; her nephew, Charles Edward Anderson, of Denver; her great-nephew, Charles Lee Anderson, and his wife, Candra, and their three daughters, Meagan, Melanie and Marissa, of Whiteland, Ind.; her nephew, Jeff Davis, and his family; her cousins, Helen Williams and Dorothy Suter of Phoenix; her niece, Linda Middleton, and family; and many members of the extended Goddard, Anderson, Ekiss and Davis family; too many to mention. Marty is also survived by her dearest and devoted friend, Shirley Matosich of Bigfork, who lovingly visited and brought flowers, faith and friendship to always brighten her days. As Marty has requested, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Flathead Shelter Friends, P.O Box 567, Lakeside, MT 59922; or MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), P.O Box 11002, Bozeman, MT 59719. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Martha s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Martha s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.