John Osborn Gooch
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JOHN OSBORN GOOCH of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, passed away July 11, 2021. Memorial service will be held at Woods Chapel UMC, 4725 NE Lakewood Way, Lee’s Summit MO 64064, at 10:30 am, Friday, November 12, 2021, with visitation preceding from 9:00 to 10:30 am. The family requests that masks be worn by those in attendance.
Dr. Gooch was born August 31, 1938, in Mexico, Missouri. After graduating from Wellsville (Missouri) High School, he attended Central Methodist University (CMU) in Fayette, Missouri and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He returned to Missouri where he was ordained as a United Methodist minister and filled pulpits in Shelbyville Circuit; Memphis-Downing; Scotland County Larger Parish (which he helped form and served as the first lead pastor); Bethel (Pond); and Green Trails. He served on the Board of Ordained Ministry and on the Commission of Archives and History, editing Towards the Setting Sun. He was active in youth ministry and began to write church school material. He also earned his PhD in Historical Theology at St. Louis University. He was also a gifted teacher, teaching classes at St. Louis University, Eden Theological Seminary, St. Paul School of Theology, Perkins School of Youth Ministry, and his beloved high school students in many congregations.
He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to be an editor at Board of Education and Youth of the United Methodist Church. Following retirement there, he continued to write books and articles (many on youth ministry) and family stories. Two of his recent books of import were Circuit Riders to Crusades: Essays in Missouri Methodist History and Playing with the Big Kids: Central Methodist University, 1982 – 2010. After moving to John Knox Village (JKV) in Lee’s Summit, Missouri he continued to teach Church History classes to fellow residents.
John joined Rotary while in Nashville, Tennessee and became very active after moving back to Missouri. He was a District Governor in 2006 – 2007 and was quite active with Rotary International Foundation work.
John was preceded in death by his father, Cortes Gooch; his mother, Gertrude Hulse Gooch; his brother, Gerald Gooch; and many cousins.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Beth Hammond Gooch; daughter, Nina Gooch (and Erica French); son, Carl Ollivier-Gooch (and Kelly Ollivier-Gooch); and granddaughters Kaitlin Ollivier-Gooch (and Kayla Carleton) and Jada Ollivier-Gooch (and Isaac Sandri); and many, many cherished family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like any memorial contributions to go to: CMU for Beth Hammond Gooch and Rev. John Gooch, Class of ’59, Hall of Sponsors Scholarship – 3334 [Central Methodist University, Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette, MO 65248]; Woods Chapel UMC education ministry in Nicaragua [4725 NE Lakewood Way, Lee’s Summit MO 64064]; Rotary International Shelter Box program [Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit, P.O. Box 785, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081]; or JKV Foundation [400 NW Murray Road, Lee’s Summit, 64081].
John was a special man and one who always helped others to keep the faith. No matter how hard, or how high of the mountain to climb, John knew what to say. Such a measured man and a friend exactly when it was needed.
Rest in peace, John, and thank you for your guidance and friendship. You will be missed, but your family should know how much of an impact you had on so many.
John was a mentor to me in my role as District Governor. I appreciated his willingness to share his experiences, opinion and knowledge. John was an inspiration to me and many others. He will be missed.
We arevery sorry for the loss of our friend and President of our John Knox Village Satellite Rotary Club. He was just so kind and shared Christ’s love in numerous ways. He will be greatly missed. Our sincere sympathy to his entire family and dear wife.
John is a lovely, genuine, kind soul. It shined through in his words and actions in his earthly life. May his spirit be at rest and reap now the rewards of his years of service to others. My sincere sympathies in your loss, he will be missed by many.
We are so sorry for your loss. I remember John in our Methodist
church at Wellsville Mo. Our prayers
And sympathy.
He was one of the great ones. I am forever grateful for his friendship. I’m sending prayers of comfort and love to the wonderful family he cherished so very much.
Dear Beth and Family, John was such a vital member of Trinity after he retired from the ministry. We so enjoyed the advent lesson books he created every year and his reading of the story, Best Christmas Ever, in our Sunday school class. He was such a good teacher. He volunteered with our children fixing and serving food to the hungry. His ministry to the low income people at these meals was a good lesson to not only our children but also to us. Sincerely,Beth Burnett & Greg Patterson
Beth and family, John holds a special place in my heart. He taught me so much over the years I knew him and I was always in awe of his knowledge, talent, and also the love he always shared with everyone he met. Trinity UMC is certainly blessed to have had him and Beth in our presence for many years. I will never forget him and the impact he had on my life. Russ Petry
Dear Beth and family,
During times of family, church and national struggles John was a strong man of faith and a pillar of strength.
You two showed how a couple can be in ministry with your common mission.
Your symbol of hope was and is greatly needed.
Dallas
I got to know John through classes at Perkins School of Youth Ministry and used some of his publications in my youth ministry. It was very exciting to me to find someone else my age who really loved being with young people. Thank you for your love and passion, John. You were a blessing to so many.
I have just learned of the death of John O Gooch. I would like to express to Beth and to all his family my deepest sympathy I the death of John Gooch, John was a very kind man and a brilliant teacher who knew how to communicate the faith to adults and teens and children with content they will never forget. I particularly enjoyed his teaching of the book of John. He communicated the theology of this great book in such a way I will never forget his lessons. Beth and Gooch family please know that today you are with me in thoughts and prayers, My own husband Jim Moore is very sick and has been hospitiized since De. 13 2021 and today is Jan. 29. 2022.