Goodpasture
Sister: 'He loved everyone and truly had a pure heart'
PIERCE CITY, MO
Family remembers man killed at sawmill
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
By Kyle Troutman editor@monett-times.com
As evidenced by the number of donations for his memorial service, Spirit Stevens, sister of Trenton Goodpasture, said there was only one word to describe her youngest sibling -- big-hearted.
Goodpasture, 19, a recent Monett graduate, died on Monday in a sawmill accident at Ozark Stave Co. in rural Pierce City after being struck in the head by a flying log. He was airlifted to Mercy Hospital in Joplin, where he did not recover from the injuries.
"He just had a radiating smile and hated to see anyone down," Stevens said. "He loved everyone and truly had a pure heart. Trenton would go out of his way to help someone and never expected anything in return."
Goodpasture's family, including him, Stevens, Shannon Portis, 34, Brandon Stevens, 24 and Ciarra Stevens, 22, has struggled with loss recently. The siblings' mother died four years ago, and their father died only three months ago.
"[Trenton] is the baby," Stevens said. "We [siblings] are honestly just trying to keep it together."
Looking to pick up the pieces after his father's death, Goodpasture was planning a move to Columbia to live with Stevens.
"After our dad died, I spoke with him about moving to Columbia to live with me so he could save up enough money to get on his feet here with his two oldest sisters," Stevens said. "He turned in his two weeks notice [at Ozark Stave] shortly after his dad's death, and his last day was supposed to be Aug. 5.
"I tried to talk him into leaving earlier, but he did not want to leave on bad terms and he wanted to have enough money to support himself. He was excited to start fresh and recover from the loss of our parents."
Stevens, has set up a page on GoFundMe.com, at https://www.gofundme.com/2f6g6jg, For those who wish to donate to Goodpasture's memorial service.
"My family is so torn apart, and we could use your help," Stevens said in a letter on the page. "Many have asked how they can help, and here it is. I'd like to act like we have everything together, but we do not.
"I know a lot of Trent's friends are in disbelief. Please say a prayer for us as we attempt to make sense of this, and if you can donate anything at all, it would be appreciated beyond comprehension."
The GoFundMe went live at about 6 p.m. Monday, and two hours later, it had raised $3,435 from 53 donors. At 2 p.m. Tuesday, it had grown to $6,750 and 118 donors, many of which are familiar names to local residents. The donations range anywhere from $10 to $500, with three people donating the latter. The page had also been shared by more than 1,200 people.
"We are completely in awe with the love and support our family is receiving," Stevens said. "Trenton would do anything for anyone, and the GoFundMe donations have made it possible to give Trenton the service and burial he deserves.
"Our family is crippled with many emotions right now, but we will be forever grateful to those who have helped make this possible. If there is any peace in this, it comes from seeing how many lives Trenton touched."
Those who have pictures of Trenton they would like to share at his funeral, Stevens said, may tag him in them on Facebook to be printed. Trenton's Facebook profile name is "Trent Levi Cloud Goodpasture."
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is said to have investigated the incident Tuesday morning. Results of the investigation were not available as of presstime.
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JULY 18, 2016
PIERCE CITY, Mo.:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration offices in Kansas City are investigating the death of a worker at Ozark Stave Company in Pierce City, Missouri.
OSHA representatives tell KY3 News that an employee died in an industrial incident Monday. No further details were immediately available.
Ozark Stave Company is a subsidiary of McGinnis Wood Products, headquartered in Cuba, Missouri. The company makes wooden barrels used in whisky distilleries.