Sally Linda Goetz
January 9, 1948 to May 10, 2025

I’ve never known, and probably never will know, someone with a bigger heart, a more positive attitude, or a better smile than Sally Goetz. I actually knew Sally before the rest of my family. I met her when I was taking flying instruction and lessons from her then-husband at College of the Redwoods and Murray Field. Sally was with us during my Mom’s (Katherine Goetz - Kathy) illness and subsequent death in 1987, and during that time whenever it was a tough day, Sally always made us feel better with her positive and sunny attitude, her hugs, and her broad shoulders to cry on. One day not long before Mom passed, I still remember her admonishing Sally and me to behave because we were being “punny” and Mom was trying to “get things done.” That attitude, that smile, that love, has been a huge part of my life since then (and the puns), and I know she shared all of herself with everyone else she met.

Sally was born on January 9, 1948, in Pine Falls, Manitoba, Canada, to Cliff and Nan Richmond. Sally’s brother Phil was born in 1950, and she said one of her fondest memories was when they brought her baby brother home from the hospital. For the first six years of her life, she lived “way out in the boonies” in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, Canada (she called it “Lake of the Hat”), on the Winnepeg river. She remembered they had wood heat, no electricity or running water, and used an outhouse (knowing she had an outhouse for the first years of her life may explain some fascinations she had with…well, bathroom outcomes…too much?). There was a short trail through the woods to her grandparents’ cottage, and the woods were her playground. Sally said she had no fear of the animals in the woods, including bears, because she thought they were just big dogs.

The family (including her grandparents) moved to Kaslow, British Columbia (BC) in 1954, where Sally started school. They then moved to Chilliwack, BC in the Fraiser Valley, where she spent the rest of her time growing up. One of Sally’s fondest memories when she started first grade was their English Setter, Mickey, would often follow her to school. The teacher would let Mickey stay in the classroom, and he’d go out to play with the kids at recess.

Sally graduated from high school in 1966 and soon moved to Winnepeg to live with her Aunt Sadie Mossman and attended vocational school and worked for the Canadian government, before moving to Vancouver.

In 1972, Sally immigrated to San Franciso, and worked in the private sector for a couple of years before working for the cities of Stockton and Visalia as a secretary. She then moved to Eureka in 1980, working at College of the Redwoods for four years, and in 1984, she began her career with the City of Eureka, starting in the Personnel department as a secretary. She was soon promoted to the City Attorney’s office, then the City Manager’s office, and in 1988 she was appointed City Clerk.

I really wasn’t surprised when Sally and Bill (my Dad) fell in love. They snuck off to Reno, Nevada, and on March 17, 1989, they were married. I lovingly refer to her as my EWSM (Evil Wicked Step Monster) because she is anything but evil, wicked, or a monster! Sally always said Bill was the love of her life, and she loved, and was loved by my Dad for more than 27 years, and during his last stay at Granada Healthcare beginning in 2013, and for many, many years before, she was at his side almost every single day until his passing in 2015. Sally and I have laughed and cried, and made really tough decisions together over the years, and I’m grateful to her for all she did for my Dad and all she’d been to him: friend, wife, caregiver, lover. And for me, Sally and I always said she never took the place of my mom, but she filled the space, and I’m so privileged and grateful to have known and loved her, and been loved by her, for all these years.

Sally took an early retirement from the City of Eureka in 1993 so she and Bill could spend more time together. She started a transcription service, North Coast Business Services, which she operated until 2010, when she became a caregiver for Dad.

After her retirement, she and Bill did a lot of airplane camping with friends and family to places like the Alvord Desert in Oregon, and the Frank Church Wilderness area in Idaho. Or, they’d fly to Gold Beach, Oregon, for breakfast, or to Ruth Lake, or to visit family in the Rogue Valley in Oregon, or land on a river bar and just have a picnic. When Bill quit flying planes, he bought and rebuilt speeders (railroad crew cars) and Sally and Bill had many adventures riding the rails from Willits to Fort Bragg, and various other speeder runs in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia.

After Bill passed, Sally moved to Humboldt Hill in 2017, and she lived there until April 2024, when she chose to move to Granada Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. At Granada, Sally visited with all the other Granada residents, and knew ALL of the staff, many of whom had worked at Granada when Bill was there. She played Bingo several times a week so she could stock up her treat drawer with the candy and cookies she won, and she had also recently taken on the job of President of the Resident’s Council.

Sally was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1973, and she always said, instead of being challenged, she celebrated all her years with MS (all 52 of them!). She also had recently been diagnosed with diabetes and was meeting the challenges that came with that diagnosis like she did any challenge – celebrating it head on!

Sally was a Christian all her life, and hosted a regular bible study each month in her home on Humboldt Hill, including baking yummy snacks. Sally loved to bake, and she made the best muffins, cookies, and cakes for everybody – family, friends, neighbors, the UPS driver, and the guys from Century Mobile Homes who worked on her house when she moved to Humboldt Hill.

Sally passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the age of 77. Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Nan and Cliff Richmond, Aunt Sadie Mossman, husband William F. Goetz III, sister-in-law Lori Richmond, father-in-law Roland Stockhoff, and dear, dear friends Kathy Goetz, Rodney and Barbara Angell-Baker, Kathy Pearl, Lucky Reed, her kitties Buster and Winnie, and many other aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Sally is survived by her brother Phillip and wife Maureen Richmond, daughters Kristen Goetz (me) and Melissa Smith, and family-by-choice: Carl and Erzsi Willoughby, Suzie and Harold Reed, Teresa Pearl, Sanna Fase, John and Paula Burton, Sue and Jim Wilson, Jen and Richard Lanham, Rebecca Angell-Baker (Paul Lightowler), Vicky Angell, and her cat Ben (now lovingly cared for by the Willoughby’s).

Sally is also survived by her grandchildren and grandchildren-by-choice: Nora Glasner, Kane Smith, Darianne Smith, Jessica (Scott) Debrick, Heather (Logan) Hill, Krysteena (Josh) Gomez, Savannah Reed, Zach Reed, Grace Pearl, Jennie (Justin) Rogers, and Dylan Wilson.

Her great grand- and god-children and great-grand- and god-children-by-choice: Cody Kruger, Austynn Kruger, Easton Debrick, Wesley Hill, Aria Reed, Manolo Gomez, Violet Angell, Evan Gibbs, Alysia Hayes, Jaydee Rogers, and Ferne Rogers.

She also leaves behind long-time friends/family: William and Laura Glasner, Janne Gibbs, Dianne Reed, Chet and Sandra Dee Williams, Chuck Pearl, John and Cindy Slater, Lou and Noelle Marak, Marc Matteoli, William Honsal Sr., her friends and neighbors at Sea View Mobile Estates, Granada roommate Nancy Loring, and the entire staff at Granada who cared for her for the last year+ and became loving family. If I tried to list you all I know I’d forget someone, so please just know that Sally loved and appreciated each and every one of you, and I am grateful for the part each of you played in helping her over this last year. I’m also sure I’ve forgotten one (or more) other friends/family, but know that if she knew you, you were special to her.

Sally requested there be no funeral services, and her remains are being cremated and will be scattered per her wishes. Sally really didn’t have a favorite charity, but if you wanted to do something, I’m sure she’d appreciate a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org). Or, have a pizza - her most recent favorite food. Or, plant some flowers, or take flowers to a resident or patient in a nursing or care home and spend a little time visiting. And please, when you hear birds chirping, and see the flowers blooming, think of Sally.

Sally had a huge heart, and a unique ability to make each of us feel special. Remember how that made you feel and carry it with you. I know her passing has left a huge hole in our world, and in all our hearts. She is loved and will be missed - always. And on a personal note from me, 143-CYH, and thanks for being my EWSM.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Sally Goetz’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.