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Today's Featured Biography

 
Carolyn Sutherlin Goodwin

I was born in Missoula, Montana on the 4th of May 1932. My parents lived in Stevensville, where I have many relatives. I started school in Stevensville.

When I was six years old my folks went up in the Ambrose Mountains where we looked at a cabin. I carried home a wood tick which my Mother found when she washed my hair. I became very ill with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and spent time in St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula. I lost all of my hair and at times was given alcohol baths to bring my temperature down. For years after I was sick I would get red and white spots every time I got sick or chilled. The only good thing about all of this is that I did not have to take the Spotted Fever vaccinations when all the rest of my classmates did.

We moved to Darby where I started second grade. My Father ran a service station and worked for Harbor Logging Co. I took piano lessons and I played piano for our eighth grade graduation dinner and party. I also sang “Down the River of Golden Dreams”. My singing all started in Darby when I sang a solo in a Spring concert. That summer my cousin, Mary Ellen Vance, got married in the living room of our home. My Mother wanted me to sing for it. I said “no” but then got a spanking , so I sang “I Love You Truly”. The following Christmas I sang “Oh Holy Night” at our school concert. I also sang in a triple-trio while in Darby.

My folks moved to Hamilton where my Dad went to work for Ted Reinbolt Service Station. We lived in the Brennett’s Addition, near where the new hospital is today. I started my sophomore year of high school in Hamilton and I also joined the Rainbow Girls and I sang in the high school choir. For two Summers I went on the train to Billings where I worked for Nancy Olsen. I babysat her two little girls. While there I took voice and piano lessons at the college.

During my junior year Margery Laws and I both went to work for the Bitterroot Rollerdome. Margery worked the first shift in the snack bar and I skated. Then I worked the second shift in the snack bar and Margery skated. We worked to earn our skate time and to take lessons and learn how to skate properly. The Rollerdome put on several very nice shows and we also had a skate drill team where we marched in the County Fair and other town parades. We had a lot of fun. On one occasion Margery and I went to Great Falls to attend a skating show. It was on a Sunday night and we had to be back for school on Monday. It was a very long night.

Another time after finishing work and the skating session, my cousin Ernest Bolin and his friend took Margery and me to Florence to a dance. On the way back we got a flat tire on “Mocking Bird Hill”. We had to take the fender-skirts off in order to change the tire. Those were such fun times.

During my senior year of high school I worked as a waitress at the drive-in. It was there that I met Myron Goodwin. He ordered a steak but my boss had told me to push pork chops. Myron got pork chops and he never said a word about it being wrong. Myron, who went by “Rex” worked for Montana Power as a lineman. They were rebuilding the line from Missoula to Darby. Rex was from Whitefish but because of the job was in Hamilton for an extended time. He and I were married in June 1952 and lived in Hamilton until after the birth of our first child. We then moved to California where my folks had moved earlier. Rex worked for PG&E, the electric company in the Bay area. While in California we had three more children. I was at home raising children but was also able to work with the Girl Scouts, the Cub Scouts and sing with the Mother Singers.

Rex went to work for Civil Service in Concord, California In 1968 we moved to Adak, Alaska where he worked in Civil Service and I worked at the school as a cook and later managed the cafeteria at the school. I continued singing, up there with the Aleutianaires.

Three of our children graduated from Adak High School. Two of our boys and one girl all played basketball and visited many Alaskan schools for tournaments. My daughter Melissa went to Fairbanks for a singing competition and I went as a chaperone. It was in February when Fairbanks is dark nearly twenty hours a day. While in Adak I was President of the Civilian Women’s Club.

In 1978 we moved to Bremerton, WA where Rex worked at Bangor Navy Base as the Housing Manager. I worked at the Navy Shipyard as the Canteen manager until 1996. Rex had joined the Mason's Club while in Adak and after we moved to Bremerton we both joined Eastern Star. Rex was Patron the first year then we both began our journey through the chairs becoming Patron and Matron in 1977-78. I even gave a speech when we went to Grand Chapter. I sang with the Chapter choir and also begin singing with the Chief Kitsap Sweet Adelines. I sang with them for eighteen years going from lead to baritone. With the Sweet Adelines I went to Germany and Austria for two weeks with the Lakeside Chapter from Seattle. We also went to New Orleans for a National Competition. I got to see old houses and enjoy the historic landmarks.

In 1994 my husband of forty-two years died of emphysema.

I have gone on several cruises, including two to Alaska. I met a friend, Ed Sprenger and he and I have enjoyed several winters in Arizona. We also both enjoy music, dancing and going on trips. Ed plays the accordion and I sing at many local retirement homes.

My children have made me grandmother to eight grandchildren and great-grandmother to fourteen.

I look forward to the 2011 Reunion and hope to see everyone there.

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