Faith Fuller Smith Goodman

It is said that the way a person lives preaches their funeral. And Faith Fuller Smith Goodman’s life spoke of great goodness. She was born in Oklahoma City to Orvalle and Alma Canary Fuller on November 11,1936. She was the youngest of four daughters. Her sisters were Jeanne who married Ronnie Minter, Mary who married Bob Neal, and Avis Conkle. She dearly loved them and their children. There were many, many phone conversations with her dear nieces and nephews from Aunt Faith until the end of her life.

She graduated from Putnam City High School and St. Anthony School of Nursing, both in Oklahoma City. She was a Band Queen and loved playing in the traveling Scottish Rite Kiltie Band. She delighted in organizing reunions, whether it be for the Kiltie Band, her nursing class, or her high school class.

She married TJ Smith and they had 5 children in 8 years, Susan and John Miles of Jonesboro, Greg Smith and Cindy Williams, Glenn and Candy Smith, Mary Taylor, and Cindi Smith, all of Little Rock. Her family grew to include grandchildren John Miles III (Trey) and Kelsea Miles, Brandon and Mary Faith (Zoe) Loeser, Cody and Melissa Taylor, Greg and Amanda Smith, Cameron and Savannah Taylor, Grayson Smith, and Peyton Smith. She was further blessed with great-grandchildren Luci Jane Miles; Scott and Evelyn Faith Loeser; and Josephine, Shepherd, and Isla Taylor.

Nana was her best name ever. She was delighted when her grandchildren and great-grandchildren learned her Nana name just as quickly as possible. The newest generation gave her great delight.

Although Faith and TJ divorced, it was very important to her that TJ and his second wife Diana were involved in every family gathering. She loved TJ’s family as her own, including Bill and Jo Smith, and Dot and Garrett Brown.

Her life preached that friends mattered and she was a good one. She had many laughs with her bridge girls and loved her golfing buddies. She thrived on gathering people together.

Faith’s second career was in real estate. Her kindness and business sense made her an excellent agent. Janet and Bud Jones, as well as her other colleagues, were her dear friends.

Faith cherished her life as a follower of Jesus Christ. She made her spiritual home at St. James United Methodist Church. She enjoyed her Sunday School class and being a visitation minister. She had very fond memories of the Saturday evening worship service and its people.

One year ago Faith married a man she had been in school with from 1st-12th grade, Ed Goodman. This added 3 stepdaughters and their people to her world; Cindy Kothmann, Susan Baker, and Tina Haywood. The more the merrier for Nana. Ed and Faith did a bunch of smiling and hand holding during her last year and a half.

Faith died on Thursday, August 10, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Keith Cooper of Conway, Arkansas, and Hospice Home Care treated our mom, Nana, and friend with great care and honor. We also appreciate the care given to her by Dr. Jeremy Ross and his team from Fort Worth, Texas. At the end of her time before crossing over to heaven she would want everyone to know that she loved you, and if she can, she will gather you together on the other side.

Faith’s Celebration of Life will be held at St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock on August 17 at 1 p.m. A reception will be held at the church immediately afterwards. Arrangements were made by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. James United Methodist Church or CARTI

Online Guestbook: www.smithfamilycares.com/smith-little-rock