Mary-jo Goodwin
Mary-jo Goodwin (Sparks) was born in San Jose, California, on October 14, 1941, to Arthur M. Sparks and Mary Shirley Sparks (Shanklin). She passed away after a long illness on August 31, 2021, in Melbourne, Florida.
Mary-jo grew up in Salinas, California, and graduated from Salinas High School in 1959. She later worked at Fort Ord Army Base in Monterey and at United California Bank in Salinas.
In 1972, she moved to Porterville with her husband, Ken, and raised all three of her children there. She first worked at Town & Country Children’s Wear with some of her closest friends. Later, she worked as a teachers’ aide at Burton Elementary School after all three of her children had attended the school.
In Porterville, Maryjo was a vibrant and dynamic member of the community. She was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church and its programs and charities. For many years, she raised funds and awareness for the local hospital, serving on the Sierra View District Hospital Foundation Board.
Mary-jo especially enjoyed the holidays, even the minor Hallmark ones, as an excuse to decorate her house to the nines and host family and friends, delighting them with her homemade cookies. She was known to love swing dancing with her late husband Ken to the hits of the late 50s. She read romance and mystery novels voraciously. Together with Ken, she absolutely enjoyed traveling the globe, especially on Princess Cruises, and had visited all seven continents. She and Ken also loved touring the country in their beloved motorcoach which she decorated with as much enthusiasm and creativity as she did her home.
After 42 years living in Porterville and later Springville, Mary-jo moved to Jupiter, Florida, in early 2014 and later to Melbourne, Florida, in early 2017.
She was a devoted wife, a caring mother, and a loving grandmother. She will be forever remembered for her extraordinary kindness and generosity. She is survived by her children Ryan Goodwin (Brenda) of Melbourne, Florida; Candice Rupa (Jim) of Parker, Colorado; and Bryce Goodwin (Victor Lirio) of New York, New York; grand-children Kayla Holmes (Parker) of Parker, Colorado and Donovon Rupa (Kelsee) of Parker, Colorado; greatgranddaughter Willow Rupa of Parker, Colorado; and a sister, Sharon Bays (Joe Feldeisen) of Pismo Beach.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Goodwin, and her parents.
A service in Porterville will be planned at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorial donations be made to The Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).