William M. Goff

William Meredith Johnson Goff, 83, passed away January 24, 2017, in Shreveport, LA, after a lengthy illness. Schooner, as he was known by family and friends, was born in Arcadia, LA, to parents James Ralph Goff and Martha Meredith Johnson Goff, whose families were early settlers of north central Louisiana. Schooner was the older of two children. He played football at and graduated from Arcadia High School, where he also met his future wife, Betty Gilbert. Mr. Goff then graduated from Kemper Military School in Boonville, MO, and finished his education with a B.A. degree from Louisiana State University, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and the ROTC. After graduation, he continued to serve as a captain in the United States Army. An avid supporter of LSU Football, Mr. Goff experienced the thrill of his life watching Billy Cannon return a punt for THE touchdown on Halloween night, 1959. Until the day he died, Schooner could not tell the Cannon story without crying and proclaiming he was the first in Tiger Stadium to shout, "He's loose! He's loose!" Schooner's storytelling abilities will never be surpassed. Schooner married Betty Gilbert in 1955, and the couple settled in Shreveport where they raised their son, William Kirke Goff, until Mrs. Goff's death in 1983. Mr. Goff was the Personnel Director with the State of Louisiana at both the LSU Medical Center and the Caddo Parish Sherriff's Department. After his retirement in 1992, Mr. Goff enjoyed raising his horses at his home in south Shreveport. An ardent cowboy shooter and outdoorsman, he was happiest spending time with his son at his property in Bienville, LA, the Who Dat Hunting Club. Mr. Goff met Ruth Anne Allien in Shreveport, and they married in 2001. The couple ultimately settled in Mayflower, AR, where they attended First assembly, North Little Rock Church. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Davis Goff of Athens, LA; parents, James Ralph and Martha Meredith Johnson Goff of Arcadia, LA; and wife Betty Gilbert Goff. He is survived by his son, William Kirke Goff and his wife Amanda of Shreveport, LA; wife, Ruth Anne Goff of Maumelle, AR, and her children: daughter, LaSan Allien of Shreveport, LA; daughter, Ginger Shaw and husband, Scottie, and children, Christian and Kennedy Smith of Benton, LA; son, Aaron Allien and wife, Nicole, and children, Connor and Cate of Bossier City, LA; sister, Martha Anne Green and niece, Martha Christian Green, both of Lafayette, LA; niece, Georgia Green Gillette and husband Rocky, and children Sidonie and William of Arlington, VA; niece, Kathleen Gilbert Buchanan and husband, Buck, of Texarkana, TX; nephew, Jim Gilbert and wife, Minette, of Shreveport, LA; Sister-in-law, Billie Gilbert Carter and nephew , Allen Carter, both of Natchitoches, LA; and a host of other family members and friends. Mr. Goff will be laid to rest next to Betty Goff in a graveside ceremony at Arcadia City Cemetery in Arcadia, LA, on Saturday, January 28, at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the National Rifle Association or the LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF). The Family wishes to express their most sincere gratitude to the amazing staff at Heritage Manor Stratmore in Shreveport, LA.