Tonya Joy Goodnow

Tonya Joy Sweat Goodnow (nee Roberts) went home to the Lord in the afternoon of Wednesday, June 8th after a brief yet unflinchingly brave battle with pancreatic cancer. Tonya was born in Waco, Texas on July 18, 1941 to Dr. Carl Matthew Roberts and June Maureen (Neslund) Roberts. Descended from Swedish immigrants and Scots Irish pioneers, Tonya was no stranger to adventure.

During her very full life, she worked as a Microbiologist and Medical Technologist at both Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL and Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, IL and taught part time at the University of Illinois Medical School. She raised two beautiful children and was an accomplished equestrian, gourmet cook, and artist who created and taught a “hands on” art education program for the Germantown Hills Public School District where her children attended. She traveled the world visiting many places including; Africa, Russia, India, China, and the Greek Islands - even spending several months living in Prague, Czech Republic. In her later years, Tonya found true joy learning to play both the pedal and lever harps; working toward her goal of playing for hospice.

She had two great loves; Frederick Milton Sweat (lived 1940-1991) with whom she had her children and shared her love of animals and farming and James Dorn Goodnow, with whom she shared her love of travel and classical music. Tonya, who never met a stranger, also enjoyed many loving friendships and was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority, Peoria Symphony Women’s Guild, Centerline Dressage, Methodist Medical Center Service League, PEO Chapter BK and Chapter FB, Kiwanis International, American Harp Society, and volunteered with the American Red Cross Blood Bank in Peoria and as a china painting instructor in her community at Robson Ranch. Tonya also treasured her church family at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church in downtown Denton.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Dr. John Carl Roberts of Fishers, Indiana. She is survived by her husband James (Jim) Goodnow of Denton, TX, her daughter Sara Sweat of Nashville, TN, her son Jerry Sweat (& Emily VanAuken) and granddaughter Annabelle Rose Sweat of Peoria, IL. Other treasured family members include her stepson, Charles (Chuck) Goodnow of Peoria, her sisters in law Karen Roberts of Fishers, Indiana and Kasey Sweat of El Cajon, California; her brother in law Jack (and Jeni) Goodnow of Fort Collins, Colorado; a niece, four nephews, four great nephews, and two great nieces.

A celebration of Tonya’s life will be held at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church at 300 West Oak Street, Denton, TX 76201 at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 23rd. In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made in her name to the music ministry at Saint Andrew.