Marshall Paul Goff of Dodge City, Kansas passed from life to LIFE the evening of February 19, 2012. He was born to Leonard Paul Goff and Elsie Riepe on May 5, 1923 in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Leonard was an auto mechanic and his mom was a school teacher at "Deer Creek' ranch school. At age 5, his family moved to Northeastern Oklahoma, to an area called Blackbird Creek, just outside of Tahlequah, Oklahoma where the family survived the "30's" by rounding up hogs, raising horses and mules for the army and milking a few shorthorn cattle. He was the youngest of three children, older brother Maurice and sister, Marian both preceded him into LIFE. Many good years of growing up occurred around Blackbird Creek, a clear running stream that was the family's refrigerator, laundry and swimming hole. Many family tales and memories occurred during this time which framed his attitude and gave him his foundation for life. He spent a few years in the CC Camps in Colorado, sending money home to the family for survival and a savings to send his sister to college. Marian married her sweetheart and his brother Maurice used the savings for college. He married Lillian Ruth Mashburn, just before he went to war. While in training at San Antonio, Texas, his daughter Freda Ruth Goff was born and just before being commissioned, the War ended. He left the Army Air Force with training in communications. Shortly after being discharged from the Army Air Force, his son Clyde Paul Goff was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Marshall was hired as a Lineman by Western Light and Telephone Company and moved just west of Wichita, Kansas to build electric and phone lines during the REA years of the communication industry. Promoted to a local telephone Maintenance man position, he lived shortly in Cimarron, Kansas and over 15 years in Ashland, Kansas doing local telephone work, raising his family, being a volunteer fireman, doing community work like coaching little league, umpiring baseball and helping build a Yankee size base ball field on the Clark County Fair Grounds. Western Light and Telephone was purchased by United Telephone Company and in 1959, Marshall was promoted to Plant Superintendent and he moved his family to Dodge City, Kansas. After a few years he was promoted to Assistant Manager, then Manager of the Company and spent 24 years in these positions. During that tenure he was active in the National Telephone Association; he became the President of this group and spent time lobbying in Washington D.C. He married Verna Mae Myers, March 7, 1975. During their marriage, they ran C& M Campers and retired to traveling, with their home base being Grove, Oklahoma, where he owned and operated Anchor Windshield Repair, a part time job. His main job was fisherman and member and officer of the Moose Lodge. In his life time, he farmed, started a grocery store/ convenience store, sold campers, started a housing project, remodeled houses, repaired windshields, and was active in his community where he lived. He was a member of First Christian Church in Dodge City and attended Wilroads Gardens Christian Church with his wife. Much could be written about Marshall's life and his activities, but to sum up his life; active, creative, and helpful, a man of his word and respected by all.

He is survived by his wife, Verna, of 36 years; Verne & Karen Pankratz, daughter and son-in-law; Mandy Pankratz, Josh & Azura Pankratz grandchildren, all of Dodge City, Kansas; Lillian Goff of Amarillo Texas; Clyde and Nancy Goff, son and daughter-in-law, Michael & Laurie Goff, grandchildren all of Amarillo, Texas; David & Shari Ellis grandchildren, Oologah, Oklahoma; Freda & Jim Monseu of Littleton, Colorado, daughter & son-in-law; David & Kirsten Monseu Denver, Colorado, Brian and Cheyenne Monseu of Silver Plume, Colorado, grand children; Great grandchildren, Ty Paige, Preston Paige, Kailey Roberts, Kyle Roberts, Jaxon Goff, Kelise Roberts and Keaton Goff, Joseph Monseu, Isabella Monseu, June Monseu; four nieces; Sandy Buchanan, Jan Goul, Laurie Judon, and Anita Sutton.

Funeral service will be held at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City, on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:30 A.M. with Jeff Hiers and Clyde Goff presiding. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 from Noon to 8:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Association would be appreciated in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.