Florance Goins

Florance Ella (Huddleston Goins, 102, of Poteau passed away Saturday, November 28, 2020.  Florance was born September 6, 1918 in Poteau to Vander Bell & Pollie (Gibson) Huddleston.  She was an only child and lived in this area all her life.  She was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 53 years Bill Henry Goins.  They had one child, Peggy.  Florance never had a middle name.  In grade school she noticed most everyone did.  When she was in 8^th grade she gave herself one, “Ella”.  Peggy found it written in an old 8^th grade school book and asked her about it.

          Survivors include her daughter Peggy Sue and son in law Warner L. Baxter of Poteau, and 2 grandsons, LT. Colonel Timothy L. Baxter and wife Elaine Renee (Jones) of Little Rock, AR; and Dr. Nathan Cody Baxter of Poteau, OK; also 2 great granddaughters, Emma Renee & Everly Rose.

          Mrs. Goins was a retired teacher of 34 years beginning her career early in 1942 with a World War II Emergency Certificate.  She was a member of the Alpha Chi Sorority while in college and later Alpha Delta Kappa International Teacher’s Sorority and the Retired Teacher’s Association, F.C.E., Extension Homemakers “Poteau Pearls”, the Laughing Ladies Quilting Club and (for a while) Rebekahs.

          Florance accepted Christ as a teenager during a revival at Sugar Loaf Church and attended church at Fairview School House where her mother taught Sunday School and later where Mrs. Goins taught school.  Since November 1956, she became and remained an active member of the Double Branch Baptist Church.

          Florance loved her church family and friends as well as loving and spending time with her family.  She enjoyed working her flower beds and always had a green thumb, enjoyed reading sewing and cooking which she did very well!  She also loved to send greeting cards to family and friends and to keep in touch.

          Services will be 10 am Thursday, December 3, 2020 at Double Branch Church, Poteau.

          Because of Covid, family requests no one put themselves in harms way by trying to attend.  No hand shaking, no huggins, no meals will be served.  So many were at 100^th birthday party and that meant the most when she saw, visited and knew.  Viewing will be at the funeral home and at church before the service begins.  Then the casket will be closed.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude’s or Double Branch Baptist Church. (Her church for 65 years).