JEFFERSON – Donald Carl Gooch, 80, died Thursday, May 7, 2009.
Born on November 12, 1928, in Jackson County, he was the son of the late Carl Spurgeon and Estelle Samantha Hogan Gooch. He was a farmer, was retired from Trell Rail Cars, was a pioneer in farm-raised catfish, a former Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year in the mid 1970s, and was a member of the White Plains Baptist Church. Mr. Gooch was preceded in death by a sister, Doris Wilbanks.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Doris Ray Gooch, Jefferson; children, Sid and Karen Gooch, Olive Branch, Miss., Donna and Jeff Wright, Lawrenceville, and Spurgeon Ray Gooch, Jefferson; sister, Dorothy Craven, Gillsville; brother, Dover Gooch, Jefferson; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday, May 10, in the White Plains Baptist Church. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements.