Obituary: Russell Lee “Bud” Goddard

Russell Lee “Bud” Goddard
July 23, 1934 ~ Nov. 27, 2016
Russell Lee “Bud” Goddard, 82, of Rangely and Steamboat Springs, Colo., passed away in his sleep on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016.
Services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, at 12:30 p.m. in Rangely, Colo., at the First Baptist Church. His ashes will be scattered in a special lake in the mountains of Colorado with the ashes of his wife, Shirley Goddard and also in a creek in Alaska in the spring.
Bud was born at home to Orville and Dovie Goddard in Grand Junction, Colo., on July 23, 1934. In 1941, his family moved to Rangely, Colo. Bud helped his dad Orville build the house where they made their permanent home.
Bud married Shirley Marie Covalt in 1958, and they moved to Soldotna, Alaska in 1963. A number of the family members went on the trip to Alaska, a two week long road trip.
Bud worked as a heavy equipment operator in Rangely until moving to Alaska. He worked as a truck driver, then dispatcher in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, for 20 years and retired at the age of 50. Bud moved back to Rangely in 1990, and spent the last nine years of his life at the “Doak Walker House” near his daughter Kori in Steamboat Springs.
Bud enjoyed playing the guitar and singing; some of his favorite artists of the day were Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow. His favorite actor was John Wayne. Bud was very creative in art, decorating guns, building unique shelf displays and outside bunkbeds. He embraced the outdoors and hunting. Bud’s love for people and animals was deep and true.
Bud is survived by daughter Kori D. Shafer; grandkids Wyatt and Morgin Harding; nephews Toby, Greg, Colby and Gordy Goddard, and Cody Kuhlman; niece Kelly Kuhlman Losher and other family and friends.
Bud is preceded in death by his wife Shirley Goddard; brother Gordon Goddard; sister Pauline Goddard Kuhlman; mother Georgia “Dovie” Lane Goddard; father Orville Goddard; nephews Kip and Mark Kuhlman and son-in-law Dustin Dahlin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Employee Appreciation Fund at Casey’s Pond Distinctive Senior Living—Doak Walker House. Address is 2855 Owl Hoot Tr., Steamboat Springs, Colo., 80487.
The family of Bud Goddard wishes to thank the Doak Walker House for nine years of great care and friendship and also the Yampa Valley Funeral Home for the kindness to take care of our loved one.