Carroll Don Godby

Carroll “Don” Godby of Eaton, CO by way of Science Hill, KY passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on the morning of April 4, 2023. Don was born to Joe and Bonnie Godby on February 4, 1935, in his grandmother Debord’s house in Science Hill, KY. Don was the oldest of three boys including James “Ed” Godby and Bill Godby (deceased). By the age of six Don was working, pulling his neighbors’ weeds, or helping his father in the tobacco fields that his family tenant farmed. Don attended primary school in Clark County, graduating from Clark County High School in 1953. He was the class President all four years of high school and played on the 1951 Kentucky State Championship basketball team. As a freshman at The University of Kentucky (UK), Don played basketball for the Wildcats until coach Adolf Rupp said, “Godby, I love you out there, but you’re just too short.” Perhaps a blessing in disguise, Don focused his attention on animal husbandry while living and working in a sheep barn to earn money for tuition. A lifetime of love began when Don met Helen (Garside), his beautiful wife of 67 years, at the 4-H fair. In 1957, Don graduated from The University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He was also an ROTC member in college and upon graduation served as a “6-Month Wonder” in the U.S. Army. After completing his service, Don and Helen moved to Waterloo, Iowa where Don worked as a lamb-buyer at Rath Packing Company. The Godby family grew in Iowa; adopting Matthew Arnold Godby in 1962 and Helen gave birth to Beverly Ann Godby in 1963. Don made many friends in the lamb industry and traveled the West as a lamb-buyer. His work eventually brought the family to Arvada, CO and then to Eaton, CO in 1976. Don was quite the industrious man and worked at Monfort’s in the 1980’s while also opening several of his own business ventures including Mile High Sheep Company (with business partners Harold Harper and Ivan Collins), Texas Lamb Company, Kansas Lamb Company, Colorado Lamb Company and finally Godby Sheep Company. His success didn’t stop in the lamb industry, in the 1980’s Don started raising and training greyhounds and owned many champion racers. The 1980’s also brought Don and Helen the pleasure of raising two granddaughters, Sarah and Caryl Abeyta. In his retirement, Don enjoyed snowbirding in Florida, coaching Eaton recreational basketball, long walks on the family farm, watching sports, keeping an eye on the stock market, and playing the odds. Don is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Bonnie Godby, brother Bill Godby, son Matthew Godby and grandson Gregory Alan Godby. Don’s legacy lives on through his cherished wife Helen Godby, daughter Beverly Godby, granddaughters Sarah Abeyta Smith, Caryl Abeyta, Ashley Godby, Demi Ford, and great-grandsons Orion Alan Godby and Don Brooks Smith. Funeral services for Don will be held at the Eaton Community Church on Monday April 10, 2023, at 11am. Don’s family will greet friends and family from 10:00 a.m. until services begin at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers you can honor Don’s life with a donation to The University of Kentucky Block and Bridal Judging Team or Friends of Retired Greyhounds. Go Wildcats.

Tributes

Carroll Don Godby

February 4, 1935 - April 4, 2023