Gary Franklin Goodner

Gary Franklin Goodner left this Earth on May 17, 2023, surround by his loved ones.

A memorial service will be held at 3 P.M., Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Trinity Fellowship.  Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

Gary was born January 17, 1971 in Amarillo to Gary and Janice Goodner. He was a lifelong resident of Amarillo. Gary graduated from Amarillo High School in 1989. He earned his Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Amarillo College and graduated from Peace Officer Academy in 2016.

Gary and Easter Morris-Worrell knew each other in high school and reconnected later in life. They were married on October 8, 2022 in Amarillo. Gary and Easter combined their families and considered each other’s children and grandchildren as their own. When you saw them together, you knew what love and mutual respect truly meant. When you walked into their home, you knew you were welcomed and loved like family.

Family was the most important thing to Gary. He enjoyed spending time with all their children and grandchildren, as well as extended family. He enjoyed sports, watching Westerns, and Thursday family game nights. He loved John Wayne so much that his grandkids called him “Duke.” Gary loved family traditions like New Year’s family get-togethers and making homemade coffee cake (a family recipe) every New Year’s Day. Gary and Easter enjoyed cooking together and Gary was famous for making his cinnamon candy, beef jerky and homemade vanilla at Christmas. He was known for his big smile and laughter that could fill a room.

As a child, Gary dreamed of being in law enforcement. He began volunteering with ESU in July 2011. His dream became a reality in January 2014 when he joined Randall County Sheriff’s Office, where he quickly climbed the ranks to Sergeant in 2021. He found passion in serving his community through the sheriff’s office while establishing meaningful connections with those he came in contact with and many he considered as family.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Janice Goodner and Gary Goodner and his grandparents, Clara Goodner, Lloyd and Charlotte Goodner, and Frank and Violet Guthrie.

Gary is survived by his wife, Easter Goodner; his children, Ashlyn Goodner, Brooklyn Goodner and fiancé Jake Morris, Codi Goodner, Brennen Worrell and wife Briana, and Connor Worrell and wife Kalene. His grandsons; Kye Cameron, Aiden and Karter Worrell and Wyatt Worrell, all of Amarillo. His sisters, Katrina Goodner, of Amarillo and Kimberly Gather and husband, Jim, of Hinton, OK; mother and father-in-love, Donna and Douglas Slay, of Amarillo, sister-in-love, Carra Morris and husband, Jake Hughes of Denver, CO; and special cousin Jimmy Weaver and wife, Jennifer, of Amarillo; along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Gary also leaves behind a large family from the Randall County Sheriff’s Office.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Randall County Employee Benefit Fund 9100 S. Georgia St. Amarillo, Texas 79118.