Mary Elaine England

At the age of 87.

She was born on February 26, 1935, in Pana, Illinois and moved to Effingham, Illinois where she grew up.

She graduated from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, with a master’s degree in clinical Speech Pathology after having done some undergraduate work at Anderson College (now Anderson University, Church of God affiliate).

Mrs. England worked as a Speech Therapist first in Kokomo, Indiana and then in Phoenix, Arizona for the Washington Elementary School District.

It was in Kokomo where she and her son had moved that she met and married Richard L. Goodell, Sr, adding two daughters and one more son to her brood of children.

Mary was actively involved in her church—singing, teaching, helping, serving—no matter where she lived. Both in Kokomo and Phoenix she oversaw the Vacation Bible School program several times and often sang in the choir. After becoming a widow, she married Norman D. England and together they went on numerous mission trips to places such as Barbados and the Navajo Reservation in northeastern Arizona. Mary and Norman also enjoyed RV traveling which took them across the United States multiple times. Norman also built Mary a house in Payson and in 2000 they moved up there.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Norman England, her sister Phyllis Burris, her parents Derenna and Walter Fortner, her stepson Ralph England, and her grandson, Ian Cary.

Mary is survived by her two sisters, Yvonne House (of NC) and Lois Ward (of CA), one brother-in-law, John Burris; four children: Jennifer Cary (Philip), Richard Wayne Goodell, Amy Palmer (John), and Richard Lee Goodell, Jr.; five grandchildren—Jaime Zorich (Jonathan), Alyssa Andrade (Juan), Margaret Morrissey (Matthew), Spencer Palmer, and Alexander Palmer—as well as three great grandchildren—Natalia Andrade, Owen Morrissey, and Kathleen Morrissey. She is also survived by seven stepchildren: Cynthia Timmons, Eugene England, Leonard England, Roxanne Ruggles, Jerry England, Robert England, and Joel England; twenty-one step-grandchildren: Travis Timmons, Jason Timmons, Wesley Timmons, Amber Halliday (Ryan), Michael England, Amy England (Nick Pereza), Tiffany England, Justin England, Anissia Lunceford (Seth), Ashley Ratcliff (Brandon), Ryan Ruggles, Adam Ruggles, Sam Ruggles, Jake Ruggles, Jesse Ruggles, Jilliane Yerse (Jaret), Roger England, Hailey Aguirre (Alexander), Emily England, Blake England, and Drew England; plus 22 step-great grandchildren and one step-great, great grandchild.

The family would like to thank Malissa Tafoya and Jamil Calero family for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in her final days. We cannot fully express our appreciation as it is so great.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life service at North Hill Church of God on February 25, 2023 at 2:00 PM. Visitation with the family will begin at 1:00 PM.

Private interment to follow with just family at the Phoenix Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Monday, February 27, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to Global Connections Network, attention Jamil Calero. https://pushpay.com/g/globalconnectionnetwork . Or you can text “Give” to 833-921-6706.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.phoenixmemorialmortuary.com for the England family.