Donald Oneal Goins
November 12, 1921 - March 22, 2011

First and foremost, Donald O. Goins, Sr. was a family man: he loved his three children equally and unconditionally, and many of his happiest memories in life involved the sixty-eight years he spent with his beloved wife, Elizabeth. He cared deeply for his family and showed it by providing faithfully for them and sharing much love and laughter. Don was a man who cared for everyone he knew, and he expressed this care through his generosity and willingness to always lend a helping hand.

The early 1920s were a collage of interesting events. There were power struggles in Russia, Babe Ruth was setting baseball records, and the first Miss America was crowned. But in Sigma, Michigan, these events were far from the hearts and minds of Jesse Floyd Goins and his wife, Reatha Arcelia (McCuen), on November 12, 1921, the day Donald was born. There was much excitement around the Goins home on the day Donald decided to come into the world, as their was a major snowstorm going on, and a cousin living nearby had to take his horse and sled to town to get the doctor.

Don was the 4th of 13 children with 7 brothers and 5 sisters. His placement in the sibling lineup meant he carried a lot of responsibility for there was always work to be done. While his mother was a very busy homemaker, Dons father was a self-employed trucker and owned a produce market. Because of his work, the family moved frequently between southeast Ohio and Michigan. This meant that Don attended school wherever they were living at the time, the last being in a one-room schoolhouse in Adamsville, Ohio. He quit school after the 8th grade to find work to help support his family.

One summer, in the early 1940s, Don was working at a fruit market in Zaneville, Ohio, and it was here he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Violet Adams. True love soon blossomed between the two and they were happily married on April 29, 1942. It wasnt long after saying I do that Don enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp and proudly served his country for 3 years. During this time, Don and Elizabeth welcomed the birth of their first child, son Donald Jr., in 1944. The family of three moved around quite a bit during Dons military service, living in Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Texas and South Carolina. After his honorable discharge in 1945, they continued to move around, but soon their family grew to include their two youngest children: David (1948) and Irita (1949). Eventually, Don, Elizabeth and their three children put down roots in Michigan, settling on Millett Highway in Lansing. In 1958, the couple opened their hearts and home to their nephew, Doug Wilkes, who lived with them from the 8th grade through his graduation in 1963.

Don and Elizabeths life was busy and happy. Don worked hard to provide for his family utilizing his many talents and skills working a variety of different jobs. He also owned his own business with trucks, bulldozers and asphalt equipment. Then, in 1952, Don began a 28-year career at General Motors as a supervisor. Outside of work, Don was able to achieve great happiness dedicated to the simple foundation of family and fun. Traveling was one of the Goins family favorite ways to spend time together. Over the years, they had driven to and through just about every state, except the northern most states and Alaska and Hawaii. There were fishing and camping trips both in the summer and winter to Traverse City, Houghton Lake and the Upper Peninsula, all of which left indelible memories with the family that they cherish to this day. Having fun was always on the agenda in the Goins house. They were all practical jokers and one never knew when the next prank was going to be pulled. Because Don was terrified of snakes, his kids would hide a fake snake somewhere to surprise him, and they once rigged a voice box to the toilet, succeeding to scare the bajabbers out of him. Don joined right in the fun by telling his kids there was a pony in the yard for them - making a great April Fools joke. What wasnt a joke though was every day was ice cream day since there wasnt a cake, cookie or pie that Don didnt love.

After a fulfilling career, Don retired from GM in 1980. He continued to be active in his retirement years, pursuing some of his favorite hobbies, including fishing, traveling, snowmobiling, rock hound, jewelry making and gardening. Don and Elizabeth enjoyed being social and getting together with some of their closest friends: Pat and Fred Smith, John Burnett, Gene Alaverado, Richard and Evelyn Kempf, Tom Force, Bill and Char Denovan, and Roger and Mary Boes. Although family was always Don and Elizabeths first priority, they never thought twice about going out of their way to help someone in need. They will be forever remembered not for the things they did, but for the reason they did them.

A loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, Don will be greatly missed and remembered always.

Donald O. Goins, Sr., age 89, passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at his home in Muskegon, MI. Don is survived by his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth; son, Donald O. (Jean Freeman) Goins, Jr.; daughter, Irita E. Canady, both of Muskegon; grandchildren: Craig, Elizabeth, Brian, Scott, Mike, Nicole, David Jr., Russell, Heather, Adam, John, Tonia and Lee; 15 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren; brothers, Wesley, Denver, Junior, Gerald; sisters, Arcelia, Nancy, Betty; daughter-in-law, Carol Goins; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, David E. Goins, Sr.; daughter-in-law, Linda; brothers, Emmett, Jesse & Charles; sisters, Frances & Catherine.

Services will be on Saturday, March 26, at 3:00 p.m. in the Clock Chapel of Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon with Rev. Ken Shady officiating with Military Honors under the Auspices of the Muskegon County Council of Veterans. Interment at Twin Lake Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be on Friday, March 25, from 1-3 & 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Heartland Hospice. Please visit Dons personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you may share a memory and/or sign his online guest book.

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