Officer Mark Anthony Goddard laid to rest

KENNETT, Mo. - A beloved member of the law enforcement community was laid to rest on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.

Mark Anthony Goddard, 68, who served the people of Kennett and Dunklin County proudly for nearly a half century in his role as a dispatcher for the Kennett Police Department, the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office, Kennett Fire Department and Dunklin County Emergency Services, died Jan 4., as the result of a cardiac issue, a Dunklin County official said.

An entire community of law enforcement personnel, city, county, state officials and a large number of friends and family mourned his loss at a beautiful, yet solemn funeral service at Kennett's McDaniel Funeral Service Chapel, officiated by Mr. Jim Mauldin.

A funeral procession escorted by an abundance of law enforcement and emergency services vehicles from across the region departed the chapel, made its way slowly through the streets of downtown Kennett Thursday and reached its destination at Kennett's Memorial Gardens at about 2:15 p.m. CST.

The site overflowed with people who were on hand to lend their respects to Officer Goddard's family as Mr. Mauldin offered biblical words of comfort to the crowd and a lone helicopter circled briefly above the service.

Dunklin County E911 Director Mike McCammon passed a folded ceremonial flag reverently to Kennett Fire Department Chief Lance Davis, who presented the hallowed keepsake to Officer Goddard's widow, Loretta Goddard.

Officer Goddard's End of Watch call was radioed into the ceremony, offered by Missouri State Highway Patrol Dispatcher John Beaton, who officials said was one of Officer Goddard's closest friends.

Sgt. Tyler Rowe, attached to the Sikeston Dept. of Public Safety, fired three rounds from a .30-30 rifle, and the report echoed through the service.

Law enforcement personnel Mark Dennis, Lance Davis, John Beaton, Mike McCammon, Aaron Waynick and Anthony Weaver served as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers who served with Officer Goddard were Steve Cook, Percy Jefferson, Johnny Dennis, Steve Williams, Steve Prince, Barry Tate, Bob Holder and Randy Carter.

Officer Mark Anthony Goddard's memory will be revered by all who knew him, for many years to come.