Maxine Goodman

Maxine Ratliff Goodman, 91, of Lockhart, Texas, entered peacefully into eternal life on Thursday, Jan. 2.

Maxine was born on Dec. 30, 1922, in Llano County, Texas, to the late John Dewitt Ratliff and Lula Eugenia Porch Ratliff. She was the widow of John Graydon Goodman, DVM.

After graduating from Llano High School and Nixon-Clay Commercial College in Austin, Maxine worked

as a civilian employee at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for nine years during and after World War II. She met and married her husband in 1949 and they chose Lockhart as the ideal place to live, work, and raise their children. They established Lockhart’s first permanent veterinary clinic, the Animal Health Center, in 1954.

Maxine lived a full and rewarding life, volunteering her time and talents to numerous civic, political, and religious activities in her adopted town – including the First United Methodist Church, the PTA, and the Boy Scouts of America. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and was elected first woman chairman of the board of the First United Methodist Church. She served on the boards of the Caldwell County Christian Ministries, and enjoyed the time she spent chairing an annual shareholders’ meeting for the First Lockhart National Bank, having herself been a lifelong shareholder in the bank.

Earning a sterling reputation for service to the public and to the business community, Maxine was elected mayor of Lockhart in 1983. During her tenure she worked tirelessly not only with the city but also with state and federal officials, enthusiastically pursuing grants that enabled Lockhart to improve its airport, build a community sports complex, and renovate Lockhart Hospital and Eugene Clark Library. She served three terms before retiring in 1990.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and ten siblings: an unnamed sister who died in infancy, Leland (1899-1914), Wortham Wayne (1900-1991), Bernice Lorene (1903-1990), Joe Phillip (1905-1977), Mary Lou Eileen (1906-1970), Bailey Bryant (1908-1979), Ollie Ray (1910-1921), Charles Carrol (1912), and Bertina Felice (1914).

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who treasured time spent with her beloved family, Maxine is survived by her three children: John Graydon Goodman, Jr., DDS, and his wife, Eleanor, of San Angelo; Darrell Von Goodman, JD, of Lockhart; and Donna Lou Goodman Pulitzer and her husband, Donald Richard Pulitzer, MD, of Greensboro, N.C.

In addition, Maxine is survived by eight grandchildren: John Graydon Goodman, III, and his wife, Jessica, of San Angelo; Lindsey Dale Goodman, of Philadelphia, Pa.; Shawn LeAnn Goodman and her husband, Daniel Ventura, of Austin; Anne Marie Studer and her husband, Wesley, of Aurora, Co.; Audrey Anne Pulitzer of New Orleans; and Max Goodman Pulitzer, Jacob David Pulitzer, and Richard Samuel Pulitzer of Greensboro, N.C. She was the proud great-grandmother of Lucille Goodman, Luke Ventura, Jayden Siron and Jaxson Studer. Also, she is survived by two sisters-in-law, Faye Goodman Armstrong and Lolete Bales Ratliff, as well as many loving nieces and nephews and their families.

Innumerable friends will remember her with love and admiration.

A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the First United Methodist Church, 313 W. San Antonio St, Lockhart, Texas. 78644. The family suggests memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church or to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Jamail Specialty Center, 1977 Butler Blvd., Houston, Texas 77030, or to a charity of your choice.