Carbondale - James E. Goodyear III, 62, passed away at his home near Carbondale, Kansas on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Jim was born April 5, 1961, in Topeka, Kansas to James Jr. and Carol (Cooper) Goodyear.

Jim grew up in Overbrook, Kansas and graduated from Santa Fe Trail High School in 1979. He married Sandra Crispin on January 23, 1983.

Jim worked for KP&L/Westar Energy from 1982-2015 when he retired. He loved learning about power plant technology and was always coming home excited to tell Sandy about how the plant ran. After many years of being a certified instrument and controls technician, and obtaining boiler certifications, Jim became the Operations Trainer for Westar Energy.

Jim was known by his family for being extremely intelligent, his incredible work ethic, his love for animals and his favorite thing of all, water skiing. During his retirement years, Jim enjoyed farming, raising cattle, and creating solar power. He had many titles: son, brother, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather… farmer, cattleman, electrician, architect, welder, plumber… just an overall Mr. Fix it. If he didn't know how something worked and how to fix it, he was bound and determined to learn how to. Jim was always there to help people when they needed it, especially to fix things that were broken.

Jim is survived by his wife, Sandy of 40 years; his parents, James Jr. and Carol Goodyear; his sister, Joni (Neil) Smith; his three children, Kathy (Travis) Baird, Karly (Bert Akin) Goodyear, and James C. (Myriah) Goodyear, and his 11 grandchildren.

Memorial services for Jim will be at 11:00am on Saturday, May 27 at Grace Community Church in Overbrook. The family will receive friends from 10:00am until service time at the church. Memorial contributions in memory of Jim may be made to the Overbrook Library, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Avenue, Lyndon, KS 66451.