Gene Goza

1937 ∼ 2012

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Donald Eugene Goza, Sr., 74, of Bridge City, died Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital in Houston.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 13, 2012, at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City. Officiating will be Reverend Charles Miller, associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Groves.

Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Bridge City. Pallbearers will be H.D. Chambers, Landon Woodard, Mel Knapp, Chad Jones, Richard Chambers and Scott Ballard. Honorary pallbearers will be Kurt Guntner and Cory Jay.

The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 5:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Born in Vivian, Louisiana on April 9, 1937, Gene was the son of Ralph and Juanita Cook Goza. He has been employed with Firestone Polymers in Orange for the past 51 years.

Gene was an entertainer and had participated in Little Theater. He was a singer and song writer; performed with the Charlie Pruitt Show and was an Elvis impersonator. With his group, Jo, Gene and Company, he enjoyed entertaining senior citizens throughout the Golden Triangle. For his contribution to the local music and entertainment field, he received a star on the Walk of Fame in Vidor.

Although he loved performing and entertaining, he also enjoyed spending quiet times at home with his wife. Gene was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother and will be missed by his family and many friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Juanita Goza; daughter, Misty Dawn Goza; and brother, Tommy Goza, Gene is survived by his wife, Mattie Goza of Bridge City; children, Debbie Hamilton and husband, Harvey of Demopolis, Alabama, Donnie Goza, Jr. of Longview, Deeya Fitz-Gerald and husband, Don of Demopolis, Traci Goza of Beaumont, Rhonda Guntner and husband, Mike of Nederland, Cindy Arquit and husband Marc of Montgomery, Ricky Woodard and wife, Sue of Orange and Randy Woodard of Houston.

Also surviving is his brother, Max Goza of Bridge City; sisters, Martha Boutwell of Vidor, Carolyn Sewell of Beaumont, Polly Lowry of Katy; ten grandchildren, three great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Rebecca Watson and husband, Harold of Texarkana; brothers-in-law, James Chambers and wife, Aggie of Milam, and Henry Chambers and wife, Patsy of Bridge City; close friends, Jo and Tal Hargis and numerous nieces and nephews.

Condolences

Bob And Sue Hennessey August 15, 2018

I realize this is late but I just came across this page. I met Gene and Mattie on the internet back in the 1990's. I think he had commented on one of my tribute web pages, in particular one I had on line paying tribute to The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens . I had just come across a book that Gene and Mattie had sent me "Chantilly Lace The Life and Times of J.P. Richardson" which prompted me to try to locate them and sadly I came across this obituary. Mattie and all of the Goza family I send my belated but sincere condolences. Bob Hennessey bigbobh@frontier.com

Anonymous April 8, 2012

I knew Gene in 1970's, he was very nice and friendly. He made us laugh by making the funny faces everytime Debbie and I went to see him. My sincere condolences to his family, partcularly Debbie, my old friend. Bob T.##imported-begin##Bob##imported-end##

Anonymous January 16, 2012

I was truly saddened to hear of Gene's passing. I had worked for him many years ago when he managed an apartment complex. He was fun to be around and always had a great attitude and smile. He will be missed!##imported-begin##Mark Couvillion##imported-end##

Anonymous January 15, 2012

Worked closely with Gene for many years. He was entertaining at work as well as away. He will be missed Charles Lee##imported-begin##Charles Lee##imported-end##

Anonymous January 13, 2012

Rest in peace.##imported-begin##R.L. Woodard##imported-end##

Anonymous January 13, 2012

Gene will be so missed! He was such a great person and always had a way of making you smile. I'm so glad we were able to see him at Thanksgiving and he met our daughter Maya. We love and miss you!##imported-begin##Mandy Guntner##imported-end##

Anonymous January 13, 2012

Mattie & all you Gozas: He was a GIANT of a man with a GIANT of a SMILE. Oh how all of us love that guy...memories of Christmases spent at the Gozas as children are just special, then just growing up & being around Gene was such a joy. John David recall##imported-begin##VeraPruett & Gary Vaughn##imported-end##

Anonymous January 13, 2012

Mattie, so sorry for your loss. Gene was a special man that God blessed you with for 25 wonderful years. Hold on to those memories. I'm sorry we could not be with you today. Our thoughts and prayers are. We love you, Johnny & Geraldine##imported-begin##John Ford##imported-end##

Anonymous January 12, 2012

Sorry to hear of your "our" loss...I have worked with Gene for the past 25 yrs and will miss his kind and generous ways. But most of all he was a person I consider a very good friend and co worker. Gene will be missed dearly by many, but will also miss t##imported-begin##Steve & Vickie Hubert##imported-end##

Anonymous January 12, 2012

Very sorry to hear about Gene.##imported-begin##Jack Bryant##imported-end##

Anonymous January 12, 2012

I still remember with pleasure seeing Gene in Cinderella!##imported-begin##Elizabeth Gwin##imported-end##

Anonymous January 12, 2012

I knew Gene when he was one of the ugly stepsisters in Miss Bonnie Cokinos' CINDERELLA productions. Always a star of the show. A lovely, funny, human being. He will be missed##imported-begin##howell gwin##imported-end##

Anonymous January 11, 2012

Gene was a wonderful person and grandfather. His child-like wonderment and infectious personality always made me smile. One of my earliest memories of Gene, includes picking him up on the side of the highway; he had loaned his car to someone without tran##imported-begin##Kurt Guntner##imported-end##