Marcella Goodman Hight returned home to her Heavenly Father on August 21, 2008. Marcella was born to Matthias and Mary Oenbring Karnowski on Sept. 13, 1915 in Seneca, KS. She was a member of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Community, former member of St. Mary's in the Mountains Catholic Church, Virginia City. A resident of Carson City for 10 years she previously resided in Virginia City where she worked for Nevada Bell (1949-1975) and was the last head operator when it changed from a magneto board to dial in 1975. She was a lifetime member of the telephone pioneers. Among the organizations she belonged to were the Eagles Auxiliary, Carson City, WIBC, BPW, Honorary member of the Storey County fire department, President of Lamba Chi Mother's Club, President of the PTA, Virginia City.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Lucille Stitz; brothers, Leo, Morris, Lawrence and George Karnowski and first husband, Lowell (Buzz) Goodman (1987). Among her survivors are her husband, Ben Hight; daughter, Marlene (Joe) Pearson, Carson City; son, Leroy (Diana) Goodman, Fernley; stepchildren, Dick (Helen) Goodman, CO, Bob (Margaret) Goodman, NB, Ron (Barbara) Goodman, MN, Jenny (John) Neill and Wes Hight, Carson City; six grandchildren, numerous stepgrandchildren, numerous great-grand- children, numerous great-great grandchildren; sister, Jo Ann Lechka, NB, brother, Melvin Karnowski, CA and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Rosary will be Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Carson City, NV. A Funeral Mass will follow the Rosary at 10:30 a.m. also at St. Teresa Catholic Church. Interment will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday in the Garden of The Good Shepherd section , Mountain View Cemetery, Reno. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Teresa of Avila, 3000 N. Lompa Lane, Carson City, NV 89706, St. Mary's in the Mountains Restoration Fund or the Storey County Fire Department. Walton's Chapel of the Valley has been entrusted with her final arrangements.


I write regarding your entry in the Findagrave website for Marcella Goodman Hight. I worked with Marcella briefly in the 1970s when I worked with the Bell System. Marcella was profiled in a film, which is now available on Youtube.com at the following link:

AT&T Archives: Good-Bye, Central

at timestop 2:23 through timestop of this 8 minute file, there is a section which features as the Senior operator as the last days of the manual telephone switchboard.