MAUREEN GOERING
AGENCY– After 17 years of courageously battling various forms of cancer, Maureen Leona (Blackmore) Goering of Agency, IA died September 9, 2017 at 12:06 am at her home due to cancer complications.
Maureen was born February 4, 1948 to David Wooley Blackmore and Williamina Moira (Kable) Blackmore in Edmonton, Canada. Maureen was a 1966 graduate from Bozeman Senior High at Bozeman, Montana and a graduate of the University of Montana in 1969. She met her husband, Kenneth Don Goering in 7th grade in 1960, and they were married for time and all eternity in Idaho Falls, Idaho on December 5, 1970.
Maureen always said that her greatest achievement was raising her children to be good people. She and her husband sacrificed much to create a home of faith, service, learning, integrity and hard work. Maureen, a guardian of the hearth, raised 13 children, nine boys and four girls. 12 children spent 18-24 months volunteering internationally as missionaries. All 9 boys are Eagle Scouts, and 6 have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Maureen’s emphasis on education is evident in her children’s accomplishments, 5 have doctorates, 6 have master’s, and 2 have bachelor’s. And all 13 kids learned the foundations of hard work at 5 a.m., delivering the Ottumwa Courier. Maureen found her greatest joy in raising and loving her children and grandchildren (22).
Maureen found great joy in serving her community. For many years she was a leader of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, various children and youth church groups, and the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was a member of PEO Chapter CG Eldon (educational support group) and served as Chapter CG Chaplin. She also led the Take Off Pounds Sensibly Chapter 1281 of Agency. Genealogical research was one of her passions, and she volunteered as the treasurer of the Agency Cemetery Association for many years. She served as a family history consultant for over 10 years and later became the director of the Family History Center in Ottumwa.
Amid her trials, Maureen found great solace in gardening. She and her husband planted, harvested, home-canned, and donated thousands of pounds of their own produce to shelters and less fortunate community members. Ken plans to continue gardening in memory of Maureen’s legacy of service.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Moira (Kable) Blackmore and David W. Blackmore.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Don Goering; 13 children, Moira (Robert) McKell of Milwaukee, OR, Prosper Goering of Germany, Kendra (Dhitinut) Ratnapradipa of Huntsville, TX, Justin Goering of Arlington, VA, Philip (Ode) Goering of Germany, John (Dou) Goering of Alexandria, VA, Richard (Letticia) Goering of St. Louis, MO, Joshua (Karisa) Goering of Bentonville, AR, Daniel (Leah) Goering of Kirksville, MO, Mark (Shengnan) Goering of Fort Collins, CO, Christina Goering of St. Louis, MO, Michael (Haylee) Goering of Fullerton, CA, Rachel (Gordon) Lasley of Iowa City, IA; 11 granddaughters and 11 grandsons; siblings Melanie Sturgeon, Shirley Dunnell, John Blackmore and Richard Blackmore.
Visitation will begin at 1 pm, Friday, September 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 303 W. Rochester, Ottumwa with family present from 5 to 7 pm.
Funeral Services will be at 1 pm, Saturday, September 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 303 W. Rochester, Ottumwa, with Bishop Jason Hotchkiss officiating. A graveside dedication at the Agency Cemetery will follow the services. Dinner will be served at the Agency United Methodist Church following the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to PEO Chapter CG Eldon STAR scholarship or University of Iowa Holden Cancer Center.
Reece Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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