Jane E. Goad, age 85, of La Porte, passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at Brentwood in La Porte.
Jane was born in South Bend, IN, on December 29, 1929 to Samuel and Valeria (Banes) Gourley.
On March 28, 1946 in La Porte, she married Marvin L. Goad who preceded her in death on December 3, 2014. Surviving are her beloved daughters, Cynthia A. (Robert) Cutler of La Porte and Kathleen D. (James) Abbott of Irons, MI; four grandsons, Thaddeus (Laura) Cutler of La Porte, Layton Cutler of Los Angeles, CA, Andrew Abbott of Chicago, IL, and Matthew (Holly) Abbott of Ann Arbor, MI; and sister, Jayne Hay of Springfield, Mass; and several nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Phoebe Krege.
Jane graduated from La Porte High School in 1947. She was a former member of the La Porte Jaycees, Coordinator of M.O.P.S (Mother of Preschoolers) at Countryside Christian Church, Past President of Riley School PTA, Meals on Wheels Volunteer and Board Member, Volunteer at First United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen in Michigan City, Sunday School Teacher for 50 years and a member of the LPHS Athletic Booster Club. She was also a Fellow through Rotary International. Jane was the Bookstore Manager and Teacher's Secretary at La Porte High School for 26 years. When she retired, she was also performing the duties as the Bookkeeper for LPHS extracurricular activities. In 1968, she assumed responsibility for the LPHS Pepper Club. As a result of her efforts, the LPHS Pom Pon girls squad was established. She headed this program for 27 years. Jane also established the LPHS Bat Girl Program in 1970 and ran it for the next 29 years with over three hundred girls participating. In 1990, she was honored by the United States Baseball Federation as the Amateur Baseball Woman of the Year for her outstanding contribution. In 1998, she was the first and only woman to be inducted into the Slicer Baseball Hall of Fame to date. Together with her husband, Marvin, she was a member of the Dugout Club of the La Porte Baseball Association. Jane and Marv received the LPHS Athletic Booster Service Award for their countless hours of voluntary service and dedication to the goal of promoting high school athletics in the La Porte Community. In 1999, they were recipients of the Indiana Inter Scholastic Athletic Administrators Association Distinguished Service Award. Also in February 2014, Jane and Marv were inducted into the Norman J. Hubner Athletic Hall of Fame. Jane was a former member of First Baptist Church, Countryside Christian Church and attended First Church of God along with Assembly of God. Jane and Marv served as coordinators of S.I.A. (Seniors In Action) at Countryside Christian Church.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center with Pastor Roger Ash and Pastor Jeff Hines officiating. A time of visitation will be held from 10 am until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the LPHS Athletic Department, 602 F St., La Porte; VNA Hospice, 1007 Lincolnway, La Porte; First Church of God, 2020 E. Lincolnway, La Porte; or La Porte Assembly of God Church, 244 E. Boyd Blvd., La Porte, IN 46350.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.