# In Mayberry...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-mayberry/123097>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 9, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-mayberry/123097 "2002-08-09T04:13:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-mayberry/123097/1 "2002-08-09T04:13:50Z")

</div>

a) Was Goober deputized in some episodes? (Esp. prior to Don Knotts joining the cast)?

b) What’s the premise about Opey’s Mom…and why does a grown man still live with his Aunt Bea?

- Jinx

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-mayberry/123097/2 "2002-08-09T04:52:18Z")

</div>

a) yes, but don knotts was originally on the show and then left. Goober was a newcomer.

b) just that his mom died, that’s all. Bea moved in to help take care of Opie and Andy.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-mayberry/123097/3 "2002-08-09T13:56:02Z")

</div>

In Mayberry … no one can hear you scream.

I remember one episode when Goober watched the courthouse for Andy while he was gone, and I recall a couple of episodes where Gomer was deputized, but I’m not sure I remember Goober being deputized. I’d bet that he was at some point, though.

Bonus question, for the Mayberryphiles – What was the name of the housekeeper/sitter who watched Opie before Aunt Bee came to live with Andy?