Rachel J. Goolsbay

1916 - 2012

Mrs. Rachel J. (Moyer) Goolsbay, 96, of Bartlesville, died at 4:30 P.M. on Thursday.
Funeral services for Mrs. Goolsbay will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, Bartlesville; with Rev. Michael Goolsbay, grandson of Mrs. Goolsbay, and Dr. Kevin Tully, senior minister of First United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be in the Ochelata cemetery under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Therapeutics Service Dogs organization at 9433 E. 51st St. Suite # J. Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145. Or to 20th Century Class of First United Methodist Church P.O. Box 1136 Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74005.
Mrs. Goolsbay was born on January 26, 1916 at Meadville, Pennsylvania to Carl and Kathrine (Winnens) Moyer. She came to the Ochelata area as a young girl with her parents and received her education at Ochelata schools. She later attended Bartlesville Business College for 2 years. She was married to James J. Goolsbay on August 3, 1931 at Ochelata, Oklahoma; and they were married for over 67 years, of which four sons were born to that union.
They had made their home in Ochelata for a number of years where she taught piano in her home, and where she was a substitute teacher for Ochelata schools. She also had played the organ and piano at the Ochelata United Methodist Church since the early 1940's, where she also had played for a number of weddings and funerals over the years. She was also an accomplished accordion player.
While living in Ochelata, Rachel and James and their sons rebuilt an old Hay barn on the property, and turned the loft into a recreation room. The"Rec Room" was used for parties, wedding receptions and a place for the town's teenagers to congregate. In addition to the "Rec Room" the Goolsbays built a full size regulation basketball court, and a swimming pool. The pool was used often for not only recreation, but as a baptismal for the local churches. Many times Mr. Goolsbay would have to park his car across the street, because so many kids were playing basketball or taking a swim. The Goolsbays was the "Mecca" for teenagers and kids to come and play. Mr. and Mrs. Goolsbay made their home there until coming to Bartlesville in 1958. Mr. Goolsbay preceded her in death in June, 1995. She continued to make her home at Bartlesville, until moving to San Antonio in 2006 to make her home near her son Kent, and then later returned to Bartlesville in 2010. Mrs. Goolsbay was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bartlesville since 1953, and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and had been active in that group for the past 25 years. Her Hobbies included cooking and baking (chocolate chip cookies were her specialty), and enjoyed teaching and helping children.
Mrs. Goolsbay is survived by her two sisters; Doris Moscoe of Texas, and Lois Tow of California, two sons; Karl G. Goolsbay Sr. and his wife Marjorie, of Bartlesville, Kent N. Goolsbay and his wife Joye, of San Antonio, Texas, by seven grandchildren; Clint Goolsbay Dallas Texas, Dwight Goolsbay of Tennessee, K. Geoff Goolsbay Jr., and Rev. Michael Goolsbay of Broken Arrow, and Alicia Goolsbay, Joel Goolsbay, and Ana Goolsbay, all of San Antonio, Texas, by Nine Great Grandchildren, and a number of great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Katherine Moyer, her husband James J. Goolsbay, June, 1995 and by two sons James Dean Goolsbay in January of 1999, and Dennis M. Goolsbay, June of 1996, and by her brother Merle Moyer, June of 2009.
Mrs. Goolsbays pallbearers for her service were her sons and grandsons Karl G. (Jeff) Goolsbay Sr., K. Geoff Goolsbay Jr., K.G. (Trey) Goolsbay, Rev. Michael Goolsbay, Mikey Goolsbay, Kent N. Goolsbay, Joel Goolsbay, Ryan Reynolds, Clint Goolsbay, & Dwight Goolsbay.
Funeral services and interment in the Ochelata Cemetery were under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory Bartlesville.