CARBONDALE, Kan. – James E. Goodyear III, 62, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at his home near Carbondale, Kan. Jim was born April 5, 1961, in Topeka, Kan., to James Jr. and Carol (Cooper) Goodyear.
He grew up in Overbrook, Kan., and graduated from Santa Fe Trail High School in 1979.
Jim married Sandra Crispin, Jan. 23, 1983.
Jim worked for KP&L and Westar Energy from 1982 to 2015, when he retired. He loved learning about power plant technology, and was always coming home excited to tell Sandy about how the plant ran. After many years of being a certified instrument and controls technician, and obtaining boiler certifications, Jim became the operations trainer for Westar Energy.
Jim was known by his family for being extremely intelligent, his incredible work ethic, his love for animals, and his favorite thing of all, water skiing. During his retirement years, Jim enjoyed farming, raising cattle, and creating solar power. He had many titles: son, brother, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, farmer, cattleman, electrician, architect, welder, plumber, just an overall Mr. Fix it. If he didn’t know how something worked and how to fix it, he was bound and determined to learn how to. Jim was always there to help people when they needed it, especially to fix things that were broken.
Jim is survived by his wife, Sandy, of 40 years; his parents, James Jr. and Carol Goodyear; sister, Joni (Neil) Smith; three children, Kathy (Travis) Baird, Karly (Bert Akin) Goodyear, and James C. (Myriah) Goodyear; and 11 grandchildren.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at Grace Community Church, 310 E. Eighth St., Overbrook. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time at the church.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Overbrook Library, and sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451. Condolences can be left at feltnerfuneralhome.com.
