Obituary of Durwood R. Goodell

Durwood R Goodell of 27 ½ North Church Street Cortland, NY passed away December 7th after valiantly battling cancer. He was born in Cortland on June 27th 1935 to Rollo & Emma Goodell. After High School, Durwood enlisted in the US Navy. While in the Navy he met his future wife, Margaret M Cody, of Escanaba, Michigan, who pre-deceased him. Durwood was self-employed for many years as an insurance agent and business owner. He took great pleasure in cultivating the talents of others and motivating them to be their best. His great joy for the last 20 years was spending time at the Country Music Park, where he was inducted into the NY State Country Music Hall of Fame as Narrator of the Decade. He also traveled with the popular local band “Route 66” serving as MC and will be remembered for his rendition and recording of “Teddy Bear”. He also, took great enjoyment having weekly lunches with his childhood friend Jack Buttino and the Hollywood Restaurant Friday lunch gang. He was pre-deceased by his parents and his sister, Evelyn Schreffler, his sister-in-law Rosalie McMahon and brother-in-law Fred Cody. He will be remembered by all who knew him for his great sense of humor, and is survived by: His daughters, Kellie (Mark) Casper, of Ontario, NY and Sherri (Bill) Masterson of Cortland, NY; his grandchildren Brett & Alex Casper of Ontario, NY and Alyse and Tyler Masterson of Cortland, NY; his sister-in-law Theresa Begovich of Escanaba, Michigan, many nieces & nephews and by his dear friends, Merle & Betsy Matts of Norwich, NY; and his former wife of 15 years Joan Goodell of Knoxville, Tennessee. There will be a celebration of Durwood’s life at 1:30 on the afternoon of Saturday, December 17th at the Homer Congregational Church. A reception will follow where friends are invited to share remembrances of Durwood with his family. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations may be made in Durwood’s honor to the Country Music Park, PO Box 402 Cortland, NY 13045.