Natala Reyburn Goodman Obituary in Ferndale at Wildflower Funeral Concepts

Obituary For Natala Reyburn Goodman

Natala Reyburn Goodman died peacefully at home on October 29, 2026, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, leaving behind a legacy of adventure, compassion, friendship, and love.

Caring, adventuresome, and joyful, Natala had a wonderful sense of humor and was occasionally goofy. She was generally smiling, and her enthusiasm for life and for new experiences was infectious. Her petite stature and light frame disguised an inner strength of epic proportions—a strength that served her well throughout a life filled with challenges, exploration, and discovery.

Early Years

Natala was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania. Shortly after marrying, her parents, Myra and Nathainel Reyburn, established a home on Wolf Road, on a piece of a former grand estate along the shores of Lake Erie. The family home was not particularly grand. In fact, it had originally been built as a chicken coop. But it was full of love and reflected the Reyburn family motto: “maximum ingenuity, minimum expenditure.”

For Natala and the neighborhood children, the surrounding grounds were a grand wilderness worthy of exploring. Along with the Adams and Schultz children, she enjoyed years of adventure, merriment, and occasional troublemaking. She attended local public schools and graduated from Mercyhurst Preparatory School in 1965 and Endicott Jr. College in 1967.

After graduation, Natala spent time living and working on the East Coast, including in Nantucket and Washington, D.C. In 1974, she moved to California to help her sister following the birth of her sister’s first child. Eventually, she followed the coast north, arriving in Seattle in 1979.

A Life of Adventure Together

Natala met Don Goodman in March 1981 at The Mountaineers clubhouse in Seattle. They quickly discovered a shared passion for mountaineering and the outdoors. Their second date was a mountain climb in the Cascades—a fitting beginning to a partnership that would be shaped by many years of shared adventures. They married in March 1985.

Mountaineering became an increasingly important part of their lives. During the 1980s, they undertook several major expeditions in North and South America and Asia. The mountains offered challenge, companionship, and the opportunity to explore some of the world's most remarkable places. Natala embraced it all with characteristic enthusiasm and determination.

When Natala and Don met, she had recently begun a career change, enrolling in North Seattle's two-year nursing program. She graduated in 1983 and received her Washington State nursing license later that year. The decision reflected another important quality: Natala's willingness to pursue a new direction, take on a challenge, and put her energy toward helping others.

India: Nursing, Community, and Mountains

In the early 1990s, Natala and Don accepted an overseas assignment with The Boeing Company and relocated to Mumbai, India. While there, Natala partnered with a local nonprofit organization to establish a health clinic in a nearby slum. The clinic provided basic health services to people who otherwise had limited access to care. It was a meaningful expression of her compassion and her desire to make a practical difference in people's lives.

Through her connections with charitable organizations in India, Natala and Don had the great honor of meeting Mother Teresa and receiving her personal blessing.

India also brought a new community of friends. Natala and Don became involved with the Indian mountaineering community, forming friendships that would endure long after their time in Mumbai. As in so many places, Natala found ways to connect with people through shared interests, generosity, and a genuine curiosity about the world around her.

Bellevue and a New Calling

Natala and Don returned to the United States in 1997 and settled in Bellevue, Washington. Over the next 18 years, Natala continued to develop professionally while maintaining an active life of mountaineering, primarily in the North Cascades, and enjoying time with friends and family.

In 2008, a recurring knee problem led Natala to an unexpected new interest. During a physical therapy visit, a substitute therapist introduced her to the Feldenkrais Method, an approach to improving movement and physical awareness. Natala was initially less than enthusiastic; she had gone to physical therapy expecting ice and stimulation, not a new way of moving.

But she was intrigued enough to explore further. As a longtime mountaineer, she had often struggled with confidence on downhill slopes, glissading, and jumping crevasses. She was also a dedicated gym-goer and had practiced yoga regularly for more than 30 years. She began working through Feldenkrais lessons from a book, starting at the first page and practicing at the gym.

Before long, she noticed a difference in her movement and abilities in the mountains. Friends began commenting on things she could now do that she had previously found difficult: “You couldn't do THAT before!” What began as a personal experiment became a new calling. Natala decided that this was something she wanted to share with others.

With Don's encouragement, she undertook a four-year training program and became a Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. She developed a genuine enthusiasm for helping people discover new possibilities for movement, address physical limitations, and improve their quality of life. It was another expression of her lifelong desire to learn, grow, and make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Lake Samish

In May 2015, Natala and Don retired to their home on Lake Samish, south of Bellingham, Washington. They brought with them longtime friendships and soon formed many new ones in the Lake Samish and greater Bellingham communities.

Retirement did not mean slowing down. They continued to travel and devoted considerable energy to improving their property, including establishing the Lake Samish Seaplane Base. They especially enjoyed sharing their special corner of the lake with longtime friends and new acquaintances from Bellingham and elsewhere. Their home became a place for connection, conversation, and the simple pleasure of welcoming people into their lives.

Family and Remembrance

Natala was preceded in death by her parents, Myra and Nathainel Reyburn of Erie, Pennsylvania; her brother, Peter Reyburn of Lititz, Pennsylvania; and her sister, Marguerite “Peggy” Annis of Austin, Texas.

She is survived by her husband, Don Goodman of Bellingham, Washington; sister-in-law Heidi Reyburn of Lititz, Pennsylvania; brother-in-law Dr. Joe Annis and his wife, Barbara, of Austin, Texas; nieces Sally Annis of Santa Cruz, California, and Mary Starck Pautler and her husband, Tim, of Salt Lake City, Utah; and several cousins throughout the United States.

Natala will be remembered for her caring heart, adventurous spirit, wonderful smile, and extraordinary inner strength. She approached life with curiosity and determination, found joy in exploring the world, and made lasting friendships wherever she went. Her life was a testament to the rewards of embracing new experiences, caring for others, and meeting challenges with courage and humor. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Memorial contributions may be made to Dementia Support Northwest, The Mountaineers or a charity of your choice. A memorial will be held at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, Saturday 6 February 2027 from 12 Noon – 3:00PM.

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