Eva C. Goodburn

Eva C. Goodburn, 89, former longtime Ellensburg resident, passed away on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at the Hospice House in Spokane, Washington. A celebration of Eva’s life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at The Ridge Restaurant in Ellensburg.

Eva was born on October 6, 1935 in Rutland, British Columbia, Canada to Lloyd & Blanche (Mead) Kimmerly. When Eva was six years old, the family moved from Canada to the United States, initially to Tacoma before settling down in Matlock, Washington where Eva graduated from Mary M. Knight High School in 1953.

Eva met Russel Eugene Goodburn at a softball game - she had hurt her leg and he carried her off of the field. They were instantly smitten with each other and married on March 4, 1955. In the early years of their marriage, because of Russel’s job with the Forest Service, they moved around quite a bit, but they eventually made their way to Kittitas County, making Ellensburg their permanent home in 1969.

In addition to being a first class homemaker, Eva had a work ethic that couldn’t be beat. Once settled in Ellensburg, she worked for many years at The Thunderbird Restaurant on the late shift. Her days usually consisted of getting up early to get her four children off to school, sleeping for a bit, then getting back up to tend to the house, make dinner and, after everyone was settled in at the end of the day, would start her shift at the restaurant from early evening through 2:00 a.m. Her family is still unsure how she did it - she was a whirlwind of strength and grace.

In the early days of their retirement, Eva and Russel spent time as the park managers at Pine Loch Sun Resort. They were also avid huckleberry pickers and used to be the primary supplier for The Blue Grouse – and picked a record 80 gallons of berries in just one month! After Mr. Goodburn passed away in 1993 following a long and valiant battle with leukemia, Eva continued to live independently in Ellensburg until 2011 when she moved to Spokane to be closer to her daughters and has resided there since that time.

Eva loved spending time outdoors tending to her flowerbeds and garden, was excellent in the kitchen - both cooking and baking - and her family will fondly remember her lasagna, salisbury steak and of course, her Apple Bettys. One of Eva’s true labors of love - or as her children called it her “Hands of Love” - was all of the many beautiful afghans, slippers, that she crocheted and knitted over the years for her children, grandchildren and dear friends.

Eva is survived by her daughters Diane Green of Chattaroy, Teresa McPherson of Spokane and Karen Kuntz of Spokane Valley; nine grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. She is also survived by her brothers Ralph (Iris) Kimmerly of Cashmere and Dale (Sherry) Kimmerly of East Wenatchee.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Russel; son Donald Eugene Goodburn; son-in-law Randy Green; her sister Patty and her brothers Kenny, Bud and Lloyd, Jr.

Eva was a 17-year survivor from a battle with breast cancer and to that end, memorial contributions in her honor are suggested to the KVH Foundation’s Breast Cancer Fund to help support free or low-cost mammograms.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com