James "Jim" William Goodart II

Lt. Col. James "Goody" Goodart (Ret.)

James W. Goodart II “Goody,” 79, of Niceville, FL, passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2023, at the Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. He passed peacefully from an illness with family by his side.

Goody was born in Jonesboro, AK, and grew up in Baton Rouge, LA. He enjoyed water skiing, fishing, boating, and cheering on the LSU Tigers. Later in life, he played tennis, golf, and avidly walked around his community. In the evenings, he would sit on his porch to greet and talk to neighbors. He loved to joke, laugh, tell stories, and help others.

He married the love of his life, formerly Amelia Slovak in 1968. They met in college and developed a friendship that blossomed into love. They were married for 49 years till Amelia’s passing in 2017.

Goody graduated from Broadmoor High School in 1962. He earned a BA in Business Administration in 1969 from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA. Goody joined the United States Air Force (USAF) shortly after graduation and enrolled in Officer Training School. In 1977, he earned an MS in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology (Ohio).

While in the USAF, he received training as a F-4 Navigator and Weapons System Operator. His first assignment was at Holloman, AFB, NM. In 1972, Goody flew 83 missions in the Vietnam War. Later in his career, he tested F-4s after depot maintenance (Taiwan), was an F-4 maintenance officer (Homestead), returned to flying (Ramstein), and final assignment was with the 28th Test Squadron/53rd Wing (Eglin), where he managed operational testing on a variety of aircraft and weapons.

After 24 years of service, Goody retired from the USAF in 1993 as a Lt. Colonel. He then spent two years in Saudi Arabia as a contractor at the RSAF Headquarters in Riyadh. In 2001, he returned to the 28th Test Squadron/53rd Wing as a Civilian Servant, which he retired from in 2010.

Goody was preceded in death by his parents, James and Myrtle Goodart, Aunt Johnny Higdon (James), and his wife, Amelia Slovak Goodart. Survived by son, James W. Goodart III (Tiffany), and daughter, Lori A. Goodart.

Funeral services will be planned for a later date.

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