Those doing research on the Onondaga County GenWeb site undoubtedly have encountered the name Sue Goodfellow numerous times while searching for data on ancestors. To our deep regret, Sue passed away from cancer on July 6.
August 1975
Sue was a special friend of mine and while sorting through her research this past week, I am reminded of how much she contributed to local history.
At the time of her decease, she was a board member of the Central New York Genealogical Society. Sue also had served as trustee of the Manlius Historical Society, where she volunteered on both the antique and craft show committees and handled hundreds of genealogical requests annually. In 1996 Sue pioneered the Manlius Historical Society’s entry into the Onondaga County US GenWeb site and in June 1997 received the first “Town Historian/Town Historical Society of the Month” award. On July 4, 2001 she was honored for her “Outstanding Dedication to the Manlius Historical Society and It’s Mission.”
Sue graduated from Manlius High School in 1949. After 20 years of service, Sue retired in 1989 as officer and branch manager at Marine Midland Bank, and was predeceased by her husband, George E., in 1994.
Following her husband’s death, Sue’s den at home became a library which housed numerous volumes on her Hoag and Goodfellow family branches, dozens of files on local history, hundreds of photographs, and her continually overloaded computer. “I need more memory!” became her battle cry.
But none of this speaks to the thousands of hours that she spent recording and entering data from cemeteries, obituaries, church and school records, and other sources. In between she co-authored over two books containing over 1,000 pages of information on local men and women who served during World War II and the Korean War, and topped those efforts off with her 1997 book on Growing Up in Manlius Village in the ‘30s and ‘40s”. At the time of her decease she was in the process of completing an annotated photograph volume of the residences and businesses of Manlius Village and, as the impetus behind the upcoming September 2001 reunion of Manlius High School graduates from 1922-1956, she had already spent two years planning and organizing the event.
Oh yes, she loved her gardens where most of us believe she grew the tallest sunflowers in the area, and also maintained over two acres of land assisted by her devoted friend, Hank Krzykowski. She never was shy to mention the latest news about her son, Dr. Karl E., a Methodist minister now in Miles, Iowa, her wonderful daughter-in-law, Liz, and her exceptional grandchildren of whom she was so proud, as well as her daughter, Laurie Liepke, of Austin, Texas. Her e-mail address “MissMegans” was named after Megan, the cutest miniature schnauzer I have met, who accompanied Sue on her frequent visits to numerous friends in the area, including Maggie and Mac Davison with whom Megan now lives.
Sue also was a former board member of Francis House, a Catholic-based live-in residence for terminally-ill patents, where she spent years as a volunteer and where her last hours were spent tended by family and friends.
I do believe most people would say Sue was incredibly organized, without being obnoxious, and that she also made the best melt-in-your-mouth rolls one could eat. Somehow, I have this feeling that God said on July 6, “Earth is in trouble. Get Sue Goodfellow up here immediately - I need help. Also tell her to bring her recipes and a few more seeds to sow.”
We will all miss you, dear friend. You were a most outstanding woman!
Kathy Crowell, 7/17/2001