Lynn C. Gooch

Abbeville - A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023, at 11:00 am at Cypress Funeral Home Chapel in Maurice for Lynn C. Gooch, age 90, who passed away peacefully at Our Lady of Lourdes Heart Hospital due to complications from several recent cardiac procedures on Thursday, January 19, 2023, in Lafayette. Deacon Keith Duhon of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in New Iberia will officiate. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023, from 9:00 am until the time of service at Cypress Funeral Home Chapel. Internment will take place in the Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery at 2111 W. Pinhook Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508. Lynn C. Gooch, affectionately known as “Miss Lynn” was born on July 25, 1932, in Baton Rouge and she was a longtime resident of Abbeville. Her young life consisted of countless towns across the Gulf Coast as her father built his oil exploration businesses. Lynn relocated from Houston to Abbeville in 1946 and met her future husband, and life partner, William “Bill” Gooch, Jr. at Abbeville High School. She graduated from Lafayette High School in 1949 and obtained her degree in education from SLI in 1953. Lynn was married to Bill on October 15th, 1952, a marriage which spanned 68 years until Bill’s death in 2021. Lynn was also an accomplished pianist, and blessed with an exceptional singing voice as a classical mezzo-soprano. Though she was presented with a professional performing/recording contract opportunity with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, she demurred in order to begin a family. Nonetheless, Lynn shared her angelic voice at numerous concerts, featured performances, Mardi Gras balls, weddings, and funerals throughout the Acadiana area. Lynn began her long career as an educator while Bill served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. She focused her talents primarily in the middle school segment teaching at Mt. Carmel, Eaton Park, Abbeville Elementary, and North Vermilion in later years, as well as many years in the 1970s at disadvantaged schools such as Herod Elementary. Lynn also taught in bilingual settings taking in students of Vietnamese, Asian, and Hispanic origin. Moreover, she successfully developed programs utilized for special needs students, in many cases attaching their desk to hers to ensure that no deserving child got left behind. After her retirement in 1982, Lynn taught literacy skills to illiterate adults via Vermilion Parish programs and the Catholic Services Center with St. Mary Magdalen Parish. The hallmark of Lynn was that she was known as a person of great empathy, concern for others, and a keen intellect. In the 40 years of her active retirement, she met countless prior students who professed their lasting admiration and gratitude to her for the positive impact she had on their young lives. Lynn will be dearly missed. Lynn is survived by her two children, Karen O’Connor of Denver, CO and Bill Gooch, III of Lafayette; her granddaughters, Kara Lynn Gaspard of New Orleans and Colleen O’Connor Sampson of Fort Collins, CO; her great-grandsons, Max Bugg and Sean Linyard, both of New Orleans; her brother, James Conley of Staunton, VA; along with a host of dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, William “Coach” Gooch; her parents, Harry Raymond Conley and Tommie Onellion; as well as her sister, Carol Conley Olivier. The family wishes to offer a heartfelt thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Heart Hospital for their exceptional level of care and compassion they offered Lynn and her family during her time of need. Cypress Funeral Home & Crematory, 206 W. Lafayette St., Maurice, LA 70555, (337) 740-3123, is in charge of Cremation arrangements.

Lynn C. Gooch

July 25, 1932 - January 19, 2023