Memorial service slated for woman missing for five years

By: Donna Rescorla, The Independent
09/19/2008

It has been more than five years since Snowflake resident June Goodman disappeared without a trace from her home.

To make it more perplexing, her two vehicles were at the house, the door to the house was open, the television was on and her purse was on the counter when police arrived on March 31, 2003.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m., her family will be holding a memorial service for her at the Main Street LDS Chapel in Snowflake.

"We're holding it because we hope maybe it will help to have a little bit of closure," daughter Eva Hawkins said.

Goodman had four children, Hawkins, Donette Goodman, Tony Goodman and Jack Goodman. At the time of her disappearance, she had 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren but, Hawkins said, many other grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been born in the five years since her mother disappeared.

"They never got a chance to know her," Hawkins said. "I think about my mother every day. Sometime I just got so angry for a while. I also feel sorry for myself when I hear people talking about doing things with their mother. I think it's not fair. It wasn't her time to go. "When I'm around my family, I'm okay, but when I'm by myself, like in the car, I start crying. I hope the memorial service will help."

She said they have already had a double headstone made for her and their father Jack in the Woodruff cemetery. As for what might have happened to her mother, Hawkins said she thinks Goodman might have seen something she shouldn't have on her mail route east of Snowflake. She said her aunt disagrees, thinking maybe it was a man who had wanted to have a relationship with Goodman and she was taken to make it happen.

One of the hardest things the family has to deal with, she said, is phone calls from people who say their mother has been found, either dead or alive, when that wasn't true.

Hawkins said everyone is welcome to the memorial service which will include remarks from her sister and her brothers and music by one of June's brothers.

Goodman's disappearance was investigated by the Snowflake/Taylor Police Department, Navajo County Sheriff's Office, FBI and U.S. Postal Service investigators. In the first days of the investigation, members of the sheriff's posse, professional trackers and tracking dogs were also involved.

At that time, Sheriff Gary Butler offered a $10,000 reward for information in the disappearance. He said the Sheriff's Office continued to be involved because of the strong possibility she might be found in the county. Goodman's family then added $30,000 and also announced they would pay $100,000 for her safe return.

Memorial service slated for woman missing for five years

By: Donna Rescorla, The Independent
09/19/2008

It has been more than five years since Snowflake resident June Goodman disappeared without a trace from her home.

To make it more perplexing, her two vehicles were at the house, the door to the house was open, the television was on and her purse was on the counter when police arrived on March 31, 2003.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m., her family will be holding a memorial service for her at the Main Street LDS Chapel in Snowflake.

"We're holding it because we hope maybe it will help to have a little bit of closure," daughter Eva Hawkins said.

Goodman had four children, Hawkins, Donette Goodman, Tony Goodman and Jack Goodman. At the time of her disappearance, she had 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren but, Hawkins said, many other grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been born in the five years since her mother disappeared.

"They never got a chance to know her," Hawkins said. "I think about my mother every day. Sometime I just got so angry for a while. I also feel sorry for myself when I hear people talking about doing things with their mother. I think it's not fair. It wasn't her time to go. "When I'm around my family, I'm okay, but when I'm by myself, like in the car, I start crying. I hope the memorial service will help."

She said they have already had a double headstone made for her and their father Jack in the Woodruff cemetery. As for what might have happened to her mother, Hawkins said she thinks Goodman might have seen something she shouldn't have on her mail route east of Snowflake. She said her aunt disagrees, thinking maybe it was a man who had wanted to have a relationship with Goodman and she was taken to make it happen.

One of the hardest things the family has to deal with, she said, is phone calls from people who say their mother has been found, either dead or alive, when that wasn't true.

Hawkins said everyone is welcome to the memorial service which will include remarks from her sister and her brothers and music by one of June's brothers.

Goodman's disappearance was investigated by the Snowflake/Taylor Police Department, Navajo County Sheriff's Office, FBI and U.S. Postal Service investigators. In the first days of the investigation, members of the sheriff's posse, professional trackers and tracking dogs were also involved.

At that time, Sheriff Gary Butler offered a $10,000 reward for information in the disappearance. He said the Sheriff's Office continued to be involved because of the strong possibility she might be found in the county. Goodman's family then added $30,000 and also announced they would pay $100,000 for her safe return.