Carolyn Elizabeth Goolsby went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 4:43 am, in the presence of loved ones, after an extended hospital stay at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 80 years old.
Carolyn was born December 18, 1941, in Woodward, Oklahoma to her loving parents Aytcha Hartwell (Mac) McCarty and Rose Collette (Patten) McCarty. Because her father worked as an agent in the depots for the Katy (MKT) Railroad, they moved frequently when she and her siblings were young between Hartford, KS, Hominy, OK, Parsons, KS, and Pawhuska, OK, eventually settling again in Parsons, Kansas when she was in the 9th grade. She was a 1959 graduate of Parsons High School and always loved attending her high school class reunions.
Carolyn married Roy H. Renfro on August 19, 1960 at Central Avenue Christian Church in Parsons, Kansas. They had three children Cheryl Renfro Pease, Cathy Renfro Koke, and Robert James Renfro. Her father and husband founded McCarty's Office Machines in 1959 after her father's retirement from the Katy Railroad. Roy left the business following their divorce in 1975.
During her time in Parsons, she was active in many social and charitable organizations including CWF at Central Avenue Christian Church, and was a Girl Scout leader for her daughters' Brownie troops. She taught ceramics and candle making classes at Labette Community College. She was heavily involved in several productions for the Labette Community Players, as an actor, stage manager, and makeup. Following her divorce from Roy, she went back to college, where her major was Elementary Education. One of her proudest accomplishments was graduating with her Bachelor's Degree in 2 1/2 years from Pittsburg State University, while also working nights full-time at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, and raising three kids. She later completed her Master's Degree in Gifted Education from Emporia State University. She taught for several years in different southeast Kansas schools, including McCune, Oswego, and as the Director of Gifted Education for USD 101 in Neosho County, traveling between Erie, St. Paul, and Moran.
Carolyn moved to Collinsville, Oklahoma with her son Robert in 1982 to teach Gifted Education. She taught school there until 1991 when she moved to private school with the inpatient students at Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital in Tulsa, OK. She ultimately returned to public education at Kendall-Whittier Elementary Schools in Tulsa, OK until 2003, when she retired for health reasons. She loved teaching, and loved her many students over the years, and they loved her just as fiercely.
Carolyn met Robert Goolsby, the love of her life, in July 1997. After a short courtship, they married on August 30, 1997. She adored Robert and loved cooking for him and spoiling him as much as possible. She was so happy and content in the years after her marriage to Robert, and felt he was a gift from God just for her. He was so helpful to her over the years as her health deteriorated. They would have celebrated 25 years of marriage on August 30, 2022.
Carolyn loved working in her yard and flower beds more than anything. She was an avid gardener and would spend most of her days working in her yard. She also loved reading and doing crafts. She was an amazing cook and homemaker. She was always very artistic, and did oil painting, crewel embroidery, candle making, knitting, scrapbooking, and ceramics, among many other arts and crafts over the years. She loved making presents for all her loved ones of whatever was her latest craft obsession.
Carolyn loved Jesus and was a very active member of Yale Avenue Christian Church in Tulsa, OK, before her health problems began to keep her from attending church a few years ago. Her faith in the Lord was strong her entire life. Her life motto was "One Day at a Time", and she loved that song by Cristy Lane. It helped her get through many difficult days.
Carolyn was particularly proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. She loved bragging about everyone in her family to anyone who would listen. She was completely devoted to her family and would do anything to help any of them.
Carolyn leaves a legacy of her husband, Robert S. Goolsby, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; her three children: Cheryl Pease and husband, Dan, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Cathy Koke of Fort Worth, Texas; and Robert Renfro and wife, Staci of Coppell, Texas; seven grandchildren: grandson Daniel Pease and wife, Ashley, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; granddaughter Rose Allen, and husband Matt, of Dallas, Texas; grandson Paul Koke, and wife Eve, of Fort Worth, Texas; granddaughter Amy Koke of Fort Worth, Texas; grandson Noah Koke of Fort Worth, Texas; grandson Josh Renfro, of Coppell, Texas; granddaughter Alex Renfro, of Coppell, Texas; and a great-grandson, Ezra Pease, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her legacy also includes step-grandson Troy Pease and partner Wendy Tucker, of Girard, KS; step-grandson Chad Pease and wife, Christy, of Shawnee, KS; step great-grandson Quentin Pease, of Pittsburg, KS; step great-grandson Matthew Pease, of Girard, KS; step great-granddaughter Ashley Barry, and husband Paul Funk, of Kansas City, KS; and step great-granddaughter Taylor Barry, of Shawnee, KS.
She is also leaving a legacy of her husband's family: a stepson, Todd Goolsby and wife, Michelle, of Choctaw, Oklahoma; stepdaughter Shellie Holt, of Norman, Oklahoma; granddaughter Mackenzie Goolsby and husband, Elias Rameno, of Fort Worth, Texas; granddaughter Maggie Goolsby, of Choctaw, Oklahoma; and grandson Tag Holt, of Norman, Oklahoma.
She is also survived by her brother, Jim McCarty and wife, Sheryl, of Mound Valley, Kansas, and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded into eternity by her parents, Aytcha H. (Mac) and Rose (Patten) McCarty, of Parsons, Kansas, and her sister, Doris Jean Braman, of Mound Valley, Kansas.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Moore Funeral Homes & Crematory in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her interment will be at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons, Kansas, with a graveside service for family to be announced at a later date.
A celebration of Carolyn's life will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Harvard Avenue Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A family dinner will follow in the Family Life Center.
The family encourages friends and relatives to visit moorefuneral.com to share photos and memories of Carolyn.