Dr. Harrison Goodall Sr.

Dr. Harry Goodall Sr. of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, passed away peacefully early in the morning of Oct. 23, 2023, at Hospice of West Alabama, in their loving care. His wife Lorraine, family and friends had been with him faithfully since he had a stroke on Oct. 7. He will be cremated, with Sunset Funeral Home handling the arrangements.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held at St. Mark’s Church, December 9, 2023 at 10:30am. All who knew him are invited. Harry was a doctor, preacher of the word, sportsman, healer, loud and aggressive card player but most of all a believer in Jesus!

Harry was born in Birmingham, Alabama on Jan 3, 1931, to the late Dr. Albert Gordon Goodall Sr. and the late Pattie Malone Goodall. He was predeceased by a brother, Dr. Albert Gordon Goodall Jr. and a sister, Pattie Goodall Robertson. He was the last of his generation in the family to pass.

Harry grew up in Birmingham and attended local public schools. The center of his and the family’s life was First Christian Church in downtown Birmingham. He met his wife Eunice Batey in the “cradle roll” of the church, as babies. They decided in high school that they would be married and become missionaries overseas. Harry attended Vanderbilt University for his B.S. degree, then the University of Alabama School of Medicine for his MD. He completed three years of General Surgery Residency in Birmingham and Nashville. He attended a year of seminary in preparation for their Christian Mission assignment.

Harry and Eunice left Alabama in 1961 for their first term of mission service in the Congo with all four children in tow. They were stationed in Wema where he operated on a wide variety of medical cases. The family was evacuated as the rebellion created increasing unrest in the country and the region. They relocated to Signal Mountain, Tennessee where Harry completed his surgical residency at Erlanger Hospital. Upon returning to Congo, they were stationed in Boende, where he was able to continue his surgical work while training Congolese nurses to do minor procedures. He always said that he performed more extraordinary procedures in Congo, than he ever would have seen in practice in the USA.

His wife Eunice died in a plane crash Oct. 13, 1968. The search for the plane lasted 6 weeks before being found by dear friends. Harry remained in Congo and married Carol Myers, creating a blended family, adding Scott, Lori, and Cathy as Goodall siblings. In 1971, He and the family returned to the US to settle in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was recruited as an Emergency Medicine Doctor for then, Druid City Hospital (DCH). After leaving DCH in 1984 he worked at the VA as Medical Director on the addiction ward. After retiring he divided his time between Ministries, Choir and Tennis.

Harry and family joined St. Mark’s Methodist Church in late 1971. He and the family settled in and slowly adjusted to life in the states. His focus was the church, encouraging ministries and welcoming members. He was a pillar of St. Mark’s Church. He was in the first group to attend the “Walk to Emmaus” in Alabama and stayed active in meetings for the remainder of his life. He often told friends that he “was going to prison” with the Kairos ministry. He served as medical director for the Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Detention Center. He was every friend of the family’s “Doctor on Call”. Happy to consult anytime, anywhere.

He loved his Tuesday morning men’s prayer breakfast, his Wednesday choir practice, and the “Same Ten” Saturday men’s group at St. Mark’s, and on any given Sunday, he usually attended both worship services. Those that know him will remember that he was often the last to leave the church. Happy to visit with anyone willing to talk. He thrived on sharing the good news of the gospel and the love of Jesus.

He was a sportsman extraordinaire. He played Football at Ramsey High School and at Vanderbilt. He was a “Pulling” of note, known by teammates as “the Bull”. In Congo as “The Doctor” he would often play soccer with the youth, much to their amazement in his ability to keep up. In Tuscaloosa he joined in the touch football games in the family backyard, always as quarterback. He built a tennis court in his backyard and would outlast his children and friends by staying on the court for 5 hours or more. Normally he was happy to coach and encourage unless you happened to be on the opposite side of the net. He kept on hitting tennis balls into his 90th year.

His second wife, Carol passed away from cancer, in Tuscaloosa. He then married Lorraine Stowe. Harry and Lorraine traveled extensively and divided their time between her residence in Farragut, Tennessee and their home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They had recently moved to “The Crossings” and were enjoying their time together.

He is survived by his wife Lorraine Stowe Goodall. Son Harry Goodall Jr. (LuAnn) and grandson Harrison III), daughter Julia (Steven Weeks) and grandchildren Steven Weeks Jr (Courtney) Samuel Weeks (Alivia and great grandchildren Lola and Maeleigh), Jessica Weeks. Daughter Page Goodall, daughter Luanne “Lulu” Coulter (Avery Goode) and grandchildren Jansen Coulter, Conrad Coulter, Drew Goode (Samm and great grandchildren Remington and Adelia), Quincy Goode and Madison Goode. Carol’s children: son Scott Goodall (former wife, Beth and grandchildren Max and Taylor), predeceased by daughter Lori Ann Goodall (David) and grandchildren Brooke and Bo, Cathy Holder (Doug) and grandchildren Lorianna (Brandon) and great grandchildren Hartley and Holder, Caroline, and Cade.

He was also tragically predeceased by Luanne and Jeff Coulter’s infant son Jamison Bennett Coulter.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to: Hospice of West Alabama or “St. Mark’s Church Construction Fund” used by the Saturday men’s group “The Same 10” or St. Mark’s Choir.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SunsetBrown-Funeral.com for the Goodall family. Sunset Brown-Service Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial provider, is honored to serve the Goodall family during their time of bereavement.