Lalla Peterson Goodwillie, 82, died peacefully on her birthday, September 4, 2016, in Corpus Christi, TX. She and her husband moved to the Coastal Bend from Horseshoe, TX in 2011.

Lalla was born to Lillian Logan and Walter Paul Peterson in Chicago on September 4, 1934. She attended local schools in Crystal Lake, IL and graduated from the Ferry Hall School in Lake Forest, IL. She matriculated at Brown University's Pembroke College, Providence, RI, for two and a half years before taking a semester off for an extended trip to Europe. She then decided to finish college closer to home at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, from which she graduated in 1957 with a degree in Spanish. She was a member of the Delta, Delta, Delta Sorority. She worked at the Chilean Consulate in Chicago before marrying John Goodwillie on April 12, 1958 at her church, St. Mary's Episcopal, in Crystal Lake. They honeymooned in Mexico and took up residence in Long Beach, CA where he was stationed in the US Navy. They had four children. Their youngest daughter, Paula G. Tate, died in 2013.

Lalla's happiest moments were spent when she was with her family. She particularly enjoyed her grandchildren whenever they visited or when she traveled to see them. Her special interests included reading, often with two books going at once, bridge, dogs, preparing fancy food dishes, foreign films, and traveling. She served on a number of boards related primarily to history, health, and the arts. She was approached to sell real estate while living in Williamsport, PA after her children were all in school. She reluctantly accepted. Lalla was a successful seller of real estate but a better lister of property as she had many friends in town. After almost three years in that role her husband's job took them to another location and she announced to all she would then be concentrating on improving her golf game, as well as playing her favorite sport, tennis. She had fun whatever she did. She regularly attended services at the First Presbyterian Church of Corpus Christi, and enjoyed retirement living at Miador.

In addition to her husband, John, of Corpus Christi, she leaves their daughter, Amy Lipkin (Stephen), of Dallas, TX; sons, Pete, of Houston Texas, Charles, of Philadelphia, PA; son-in-law, Ira Tate, of Flemington, NJ; grandchildren, Allie Greenberger, Jack and Ian Goodwillie, all of greater Philadelphia, Chase Tate, of Flemington, NJ; and nephew, Joe Potter, of Austin TX. She was predeceased by her brother, Rick Smith; and sister, Mary Potter.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Burial will be at a Goodwillie Family location in Vermont.