Joseph Knight and Cordelia Jewell Goodrich

Mar 3, 2022

A Love Story

Joseph Knight Goodrich, 91, and Cordelia Jewell (Brooks) Goodrich, 87, passed away earlier this year in Yuma, Ariz., on Feb. 21, and March 3, 2022, within 10 days of each other - a testimony to their connection of heart.

Knight was born to Anna Leah (Fossett) Goodrich and Clarence Eugene Goodrich in Porterville, Calif., on July 21, 1930. He grew up with his sisters, Ruthann and Frances, along with his brother, David. On June 10, 1934, Jewell was born to Ella Prudie (Gabbert Brooks) Ballard and Thomas Thurman Brooks in Abilene, Texas. She had two brothers, Bobby "Bob" and Thurman "T.O."

Knight and Jewell's paths crossed in the summer of 1952, when they met for the first time in Valdez, Alaska. They were married months later, on November 25, at the ages of 22 and 18, respectively. This coming November, family will gather to honor what would be their 70th wedding anniversary.

They had five children: Harold, Jeanette, Suzette, Gerald and Linette. They remember well when their mother saved their lives in the "Great Quake of 1964." A fiercely opinionated woman with an enormous heart, she fought for her family and made sure that the people she loved knew that they mattered to her.

A truck driver of the Teamsters Union by profession, Knight Goodrich drove thousands upon thousands of miles in Alaska without a single accident. They never got tired of adventuring and spending time together on the road. After retiring, they purchased an RV and became snowbirds, driving yearly between Anchorage and Yuma.

They were passionate about arts and crafts and hosted a sewing group in Yuma for their tight-knit community of lifelong friends, which served as a hub of creativity, color and inspiration for the people they cared about most. Jewell took great joy in collecting bright and eccentric fabrics, working on sewing projects, and giving handmade quilts and crafts as gifts. Knight, a wood craftsman, built all of the cupboards to hold their colorful materials. Also a fan of cribbage, he could skunk just about anyone.

Jewell and Knight, or "Grandma and Grandpa Goodrich," leave behind a great legacy of love. They are survived by four of their children, 21 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Their dedication to their work, family and community leave for us an example to be remembered. The matriarch and patriarch of the Goodrich clan, they brought everyone together and will be forever held in our hearts.

Their Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on May 1, 2022, in Yuma, at noon. Please visit their memorial page for the link to the virtual invitation and to share stories and memories: http://www.gatheringus.com/memorial/joseph-knight-cordelia-jewell-goodrich/9004.