Karon Kaye Tinsley Goolsby
Karon Kaye Tinsley Goolsby, a longtime resident of Katy, Texas, passed away Monday, June 19, 2023, resulting from long-term liver and kidney disease and related complications.
Kaye was born April 3, 1950, in Ruston, to Harold Tulsa “Tip” and Sarah Johnette “Pete” Tinsley of Arcadia. She grew up in Arcadia, graduating from Arcadia High School, where she was a feature twirler, having developed her skill from a very young age, ultimately achieving status as of one the top 20 in the U.S. She then attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. She remained a feature twirler while in college and had the opportunity to perform at New Orleans Saints football games.
Kaye met her future husband, Gary B. Goolsby from Ruston, during their senior year at LA Tech and immediately fell in love, beginning what was to become a wonderful, beautiful relationship. On April 26, 1975, they married in Arcadia, with Houston being their home. They moved to Katy in 1977, where they have lived for over 45 years, except for two years in Chicago when Gary became a partner with Arthur Andersen.
Their son, Gregory, was born in 1981. Kaye was a devoted mother to Greg and could always be found supporting any classroom or activity he was involved with. From PTA member and officer, to classroom mother, to heading auctions, to Team Mom, to Varsity Football Coordinator, to Xerox- lady, no opportunity to serve was too small.
She believed strongly in gifting her time to make things better anywhere she could. And Kaye always had time for Greg, whether it be spring break or special activities, she always had that as her top priority. At times, Gary even found Kaye and Greg on the kitchen floor playing jax or Greg helping his mom cook.
After her initial work as a volunteer at his schools, Kaye went on to continue supporting Katy ISD on a larger scale. She judged the Katy FFA Rodeo parade for 19 years, was a member of Katy ISD’s district PTA Council, served as a member of the Katy ISD Partners in Education Advisory Board and was a member of Taylor High School’s Campus Advisory Team. Alongside her husband Gary, Kaye also became a Keystone Investor in Katy ISD’s Education Foundation.
In addition to her volunteer work at Katy ISD, she also served the greater Katy community in a variety of ways. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Memorial Parkway Community Association, a member and officer of the Board of Directors of the Kelliwood Women’s Association and a member of the Business Steering Committee for Houston Community College. Kaye served as a member of the Houston Junior Forum, including chairing committees for the Fall Style Show and the Spring 50-year Gala.
She was a member of the Houston Ballet Guild, the Board of Directors of the Houston Chapter of CPAs Auxiliary for eight years including serving as President and the Mayor’s Gala Committee for the Houston International Festival. Kaye was the Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee for the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce and chaired “Katy Day” in Austin for the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce for three Legislative Sessions. For two consecutive years, Kaye was named as one of the Top 100 Women of the Katy Area.
Kaye was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Katy since she and Gary became members in 1979. During her membership, she held numerous leadership positions, including serving as a lay delegate to the church’s annual conference, even being the first female Lay Leader in the then almost 100 year old church.
Kaye was president of United Methodist Women for four consecutive years, chaired the Fellowship Hall Renovation Committee with 60 members and served on virtually all key committees of the church. She and Gary were president of the Living Word Sunday School Class with 150 members for 14 years. Kaye was a bellringer in the Handbell Choir and an usher for over 25 years.
She was a constant supporter for the children and youth, coordinating a youth style show as a fundraiser, leading youth events and even volunteering to sit in the annual dunking booth. Rarely was there an instance where Kaye was not one of the first to step up and lead anytime a need existed.
Beyond believing in serving her church and community, Kaye also believed in serving her country. Kaye began working to support the Republican Party in 1982. Her very first political campaign was for the winner in the Constable race. While pushing her one-year old Greg in a stroller, Kaye canvassed the community to hand out flyers, exhibiting the kind of passion and dedication she was known for. That campaign sparked a career that would span over four decades and touch countless lives across the U.S.
Over the course of 40 years, Kaye held a variety of leadership positions for the Republican Party and campaigns at local, state and national levels. She became active in Republic Women’s organizations, serving in various positions including, among others, Vice President of Programs for Mason Creek Republican Women, Vice President of Membership and President of West Houston Republican Women and Member of the Board for Republican Women of Katy Club and Greater Katy Area Republicans.
She was deeply involved with the Texas Federation of Republican Women (TFRW) holding a variety of positions including Chairman of Hotline Committee, Chairman of Candidate Recruitment, Vice-President of Finance, Vice-President of Legislation and Floor Chairman, Host and Advisor for State Conventions. In 2011, Kaye was honored as one of the Top Ten Republican Women in Texas. Her work expanded to a national level through the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) where she worked as Vice Chairman of the Americanism Committee, a member of the NFRW Literacy Committee, Co-Chairman of Vendors for the NFRW National Convention and a Delegate to NFRW National Conventions.
Kaye worked tirelessly over the years to ensure the best people were elected to office. In this process, some have referred to Kaye as “a force to be reckoned with” and she told several candidates if they want to win, “get out of her way.”
Campaigns for which Kaye served in leadership positions include, among others, President George W. Bush, U. S. Senator Ted Cruz and National Grassroots Chairman Ted Cruz for President, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor and Governor Rick Perry, U.S. Representative Joe Barton, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Comptroller Susan Combs, Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, Railroad Commissioner Tony Garza, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, U. S. Representative John Culberson, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, U. S. Senator Fred Thompson for President, U.S. Representative John Cooksey for U.S. Senate, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Texas State Senator Kyle Janek, Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, Texas State Senator Joan Huffman, Texas State Representative Bill Callegari, Waller County Judge Glenn Beckendorff, Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack, Harris County Sheriff Tommy Thomas, Katy Mayor Don Elder and Katy Mayor Doyle Callender.
She took on leadership roles in many other campaigns including statewide elected officials in Texas, county officials, Texas Supreme Court Justices, Texas state judges, city of Houston officials, state senators, state representatives, sheriffs and many Katy ISD Board of Trustees races.
Kaye was also a delegate to many Republican Senatorial and State Conventions.
Kaye also had a gift of being able to mix her passion for political work and her love of supporting the students of Katy ISD. Over the years, she was also able to coordinate and arrange for multiple teams, student groups, organizations and individual students to meet with then Governor George W. Bush, Lt. Governor Rick Perry, Attorney General John Cornyn, Texas Supreme Court Justice Greg Abbott, as well as numerous other local, state and U.S. senators and representatives. She shared presentations of the American Democratic system at various schools, judged mock Congressional hearings and coordinated several Veterans Day ceremony speakers at Katy Junior High. Kaye arranged for Congressman Michael McCaul, Senator John Cornyn, and, at the time, Attorney General Greg Abbott to lead the coin toss at Katy ISD football games.
She also assisted several Katy ISD graduates in getting nominations to West Point and the Naval and Air Force Academies.
Kaye believed in her country and in the importance of faith and her family. Through all of her volunteer activities and political work, her love for Gary and Greg remained the most cherished aspect of her life, and when her daughterin- law, Christie, came into the family — followed later by her two grandchildren — that love grew even more. She adored spending time with them and cherished having them as a part of her life. She was “KK” to her grandchildren and so many others who loved, respected and adored her.
She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Gary B. Goolsby; son, Greg Goolsby and his wife Christie; and two grandchildren, Preston and Avery. She is also survived by her mother, Sarah “ Pete” Tinsley; sister, Renee Tinsley Duchaney; sister-in-law, Harryette Tinsley; nieces, Hannah Tinsley, Lauren Tinsley, Amanda Hood; and nephew, Jonathan Hood.
She was preceded in death by her father, Harold Tulsa “Tip” Tinsley and her brother, Harold Sutton Tinsley.
The family received friends from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway Chapel, in Katy. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Katy First United Methodist Church with Rev. David Welch officiating. Interment in Katy Magnolia Cemetery.
The family suggests that any donations in memory of Kaye be made to Donate Life Texas, an organization that provides public education regarding organ donation and maintaining the donor registry.
Donations will help bring hope to the thousands of people in need of transplants and all those who love them.
Link for donation is https://www.gifttool. com/donations.
