Ray A. Goodwin

Ray A. Goodwin, 72, died peacefully in his home on January 2, 2011, just a few days short of the birthday he shared with President Abraham Lincoln. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray H. and Helen Goodwin, and his brother, Phil of West Virginia, who died while on a hunting trip in Wyoming last November. His survived by his wife of 47 years, the former Kay Monk; and his sons, Mark of Jonesboro, and James (Laura) of Austin, Texas; his brother, Mike (Linda) of Boerne, Texas, his sister, Linda Seale of Bastrop, Texas, sister-in-law, Pam Goodwin of Charlotte W.Va., brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Jim and Lynn Monk of Little Rock. Goodwin was a graduate of Hendrix College and the SMU Law School. Ray practiced law in Paragould for more than 45 years as a member of Paragould's oldest law firm, most recently know as Goodwin Moore LLP. He was proud that he and his partner, Harry Truman Moore, practiced together for over 35 years, longer than any two other partners in the firm's 121 year history. Ray considered himself as being one of the last true "General Practice" lawyers in the state. He had an active estate planning and probate practice, practiced criminal law in the state and federal courts, and handled complex business litigation against some of the state and region's largest law firms. He was honored by his peers through his selection as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" and "Best Lawyers in Arkansas." He served as President of the Greene-Clay Bar Association and was honored by the state bar with a "Golden Gavel" award for his service as chair of its "Committee for the Legal Services for the Deaf." He was a Paul Harris Fellow and served as President of the Paragould Rotary Club. He chaired the Greene County Library Board and also served by appointment by Gov. David Pryor on the Arkansas State Library Commission. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, where he chaired the church board, sang in the choir, and taught the "Alpha" Sunday Class for over 25 years. Visitation will be on Saturday, January 8, at 1 p.m. in the Welcome Center of the First United Methodist Church in Paragould. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. at the church, with Rev. Tom Letchworth officiating, with poetry presented by his former partner, retired Judge Gerald Brown, and the eulogy by his partner, Harry Truman Moore. Memorials may be made to the FUMC Paragould Building Fund, Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, or Hendrix College.