One of those important and special people departed this life this weekend, as he lost his battle with cancer.  Dr. Gary A. Goforth of Nashville, died very early Saturday morning at the Washington County Hospital Skilled Care in Nashville.  He 68 years old.

Dr. Goforth was born in Murphysboro, but went to high school in Anna, where he played basketball and baseball and was Student Body President in 1963.  After receiving his degrees and working his internships, he came to Okawville and Nashville in 1975.  He joined practice with Doctors Tom Coy and Ralph Kelley.  His first year in Okawville, he practiced out of a motel since there was no other office space available till the current medical center was built.

Dr. Goforth was involved in many community activities.  He was recently named the Volunteer of the Year in Nashville and has been awarded by the Nashville Lions Club, Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Certification in Family Practice by the American Board of Family Physicians, Outstanding Team Physician Award from the Illinois State Medical Society, Certification in Family Practice by the American Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians, Family Practitioner of the year in the American Association of Physician Specialists and Physician of the Year in the American Academy of Specialists in Family Practice.  He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Dedication to Area Youth from Nashville Community High School this year and he was to be awarded the Favorite Son Award from the Southern Illinois Medical Association in November of 2014.  Doc spent his life dedicated to serving his patients, and most of all he loved spending all his extra time with his children and grandchildren and attending sporting events, especially the Nashville Hornets.

Funeral services for family, colleagues and close friends will be held at the Campagna Funeral Home in Nashville on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at 10 AM with Pastor Don Jones officiating and with interment in the Greenwood Cemetery in Nashville.

Visitation will be at the Nashville Community High School Assembly Hall on Tuesday from 5 until 9 PM.  And on Wednesday at Campagna Funeral Home in Nashville from 7:30 until 10 AM.

Memorials can be made to the Nashville Football Bleacher Fund, PanCan Walk with the Dogs or the Angels for Autisim and will be accepted by the Campagna Funeral Home in Nashville.

Online expressions of sympathy can be made at www. campagnafuneralhomes.com.