John Goodrich

John Charles Goodrich died on July 14, 2022, at his home in Kalispell, MT, after valiantly battling cancer for a number of years. John was born on September 16, 1935, in Dayton, Washington to Wilson and Wreath Goodrich.   He graduated from Dayton High School in 1953.  John enlisted in the Air National Guard of Washington in 1954, serving 9 years and playing in the concert/marching band. He graduated from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor's degree in music education; he later went back to EWU to get his master's degree in music.  John spent his career working with students of all ages and instilling in them a love and passion for the arts.

In 1955, John married Shirley Hasselman, and together they had two wonderful children – Mike and Julie.

John had a diverse teaching career, starting at a small school in Idaho – teaching everything from PE to math to music. He then taught in Spokane, WA, at Green Acres Junior High.  He later moved to the Seattle area, accepting a position on the music faculty at Shoreline Community College.  After John retired from teaching, he continued his already stellar career as a professional musician.  He was a founding member of Uptown Lowdown Dixieland Jazz Band of Seattle and travelled the world performing at jazz festivals, private events, and participating in educational programs.  John performed with various bands at festivals and on 30+ jazz-themed cruises including his regular band--Uptown Lowdown, Bob Schulz's Frisco Jazz Band, Hume Street Preservation Jazz Band, The Bob Crosby Bobcats, Last Chance Dixieland Jazz Band, and others.  He was routinely invited to sub for Dixieland-genre reed players across the country.  One of his most cherished memories was an opportunity to be the featured soloist with the Jack Daniels Silver Cornet Band when they participated in the Glacier Jazz Stampede in Kalispell, MT, in 1998.

John moved to Montana in 2001 and quickly became an important member of the music community in the Flathead Valley. He played in a variety of musical groups including Cowboy Country & the Gold Dust Girls, Rocky Mountain Rhythm Kings, the Flathead Community Band, The Don Lawrence Orchestra, Swingin' on High Big Band, Glacier Symphony, and numerous trios and small ensembles.  John was a music theory and clarinet instructor for 20 years at Camp Heebie Jeebies, a traditional jazz camp held in the Olympic Peninsula, WA.   He also performed in the orchestra at Whitefish Theatre Company for several major musical productions.

In 2007, John married Karla West, and together they continued to contribute to the music community of the Flathead Valley and Pacific Northwest.

John is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Curtis.

John is survived by his wife Karla West, son Mike, daughter Julie Taylor (Tom Eagan), stepdaughters Kelly West Haverlandt (Dennis), Kimberly Durham (Tom), Erica Schatte (Brad Yeager), Jill Lautaret (David), eleven grandchildren (Meghan, Melissa, Chelsea, Jimmy, Ashley, Shane, Courtney, Amber, Cassie, June, and Harlan) and six great-grandchildren (Jaxon, Cooper, Jonah, Atticus, Penny, and Silas).

A celebration of life is planned for September 9, 2022, 5.30p to 7.30p, at Snappy Sport Senter, in Kalispell, MT.