Larry Goodrich, 84

In loving memory of Larry Clarence Goodrich, 84, of Bellingham, Washington, who unexpectedly passed away with his family by his side on Dec. 19, 2025, at St. Joseph PeaceHealth Hospital in Bellingham, Washington. He was a joyous and humorous person, generous and kind, who had never met a stranger. He will be deeply missed as the patriarch of our family, who provided the wisest advice, patient understanding, and the best whisker burns. He expressed interest in completing his bucket list, which included many new adventures, exotic trips, and spending time with his family and friends.

Larry was born in Elsie, Michigan, to Sidney Marcellus Goodrich and Mildred Ione Devereaux on June 22, 1941. He attended Elsie Country School and Elsie High School in Michigan. In 1959, he moved west to attend the University of Montana for a forestry degree. He met Rosalee (Lee) Paull at the university’s Forester’s Ball in 1960 and married her in 1961. He worked as a forester until 1971, when he started as a salesman with Waddell & Reed, an investment firm. He continued living in Montana and in the Flathead Valley, while starting a family of three children.

Given an opportunity to join Foster and Marshall, the family moved to Bellingham in 1978. Larry formed Goodrich and Associates Inc. in 1982 and joined Investment, Management, and Research Inc. (now Raymond James Financial Services Inc.) as a financial advisor.

He enjoyed working as a certified financial planner with his many clients collected over 53 years in the business. He worked until 2021, passing the business onto his son in 2014, who has since been joined by Larry’s grandson, Tyler.

Larry led a varied and storied life, including working in Yellowstone Park in the early 1960s as a park employee on Yellowstone Lake, a firefighter in northern Alaska, a forester in Montana, and a Boy Scout leader in Montana. He was an avid bird enthusiast and outdoor wildlife supporter, as well as a boater, sailor, hiker and camper. As a hunter and fisherman, he supported many outdoor organizations while exploring all over the West, British Columbia, Alaska, and beyond. He enjoyed social gatherings where he would regale family and friends with his early life adventures and later in life travel stories.

His charitable contributions included working as a board member of the Whatcom chapter of the Red Cross for many years. He was a Bellingham Power Squadron instructor and Bellingham Yacht Club member, teaching boating safety to the public, while sailing and outdoor recreating with his wife and family in Montana and in Bellingham, and exploring the San Juan Islands, Canadian islands, the Inside Passage and Alaska. He was the driving force behind implementing the Fisherman’s Memorial at Squalicum Harbor, Bellingham.

Larry, Lee and the family traveled continuously, including trips to Spain, Scotland, Greece, Morocco, China, Portugal, Germany, England, Iceland, Japan and Ireland. His last years were spent traveling to see family, helping his wife, enjoying his extensive patio garden, hunting, fishing, hosting family gatherings, and getting to know his newest great-grandson.

Larry is survived by his son, Matthew Goodrich; his daughters, Julie Goodrich and Joan Goodrich Miller; his granddaughter, Brittany Phillips; grandsons, Tyler Goodrich, Brennan and Zane Miller and great-grandchildren, Marcus, Kai, Sophie, Liam and Brooklyn. 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Rosalee Paull Goodrich.

A memorial service to celebrate both Larry and Lee’s life will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the Zuanich Point Boathouse, Squalicum Harbor, Bellingham, Washington.

The family would like to highlight the thoughtful, kind care of the volunteers and staff at Whatcom Hospice, St Joseph’s Peacehealth Hospital, and the employees of Visiting Angels Home Care Services of Bellingham.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Red Cross Northwest Washington Region at whatcomhospice.org