Elizabeth (Beth) Stokes Goolsby

Elizabeth Jane (Beth) Stokes Goolsby was born on June 8, 1915 in Clifton, Texas. She was the second daughter born to Herbert E. Stokes and Ruby Lou Hunter Stokes. Later the family moved to Tahoka, Texas where her dad farmed with his dad, before moving on to Abilene, Texas. Beth and her sisters and brother all grew up in Abilene and attended Abilene High School. During their adolecense they each picked cotton in order to help support the family. After high school she worked in sewing factory in Abilene. She married William M. (Bill) Goolsby in Abilene on September 17, 1937. Their daughter, Kathryn was born in Abilene in 1940. In 1941 they left the Abilene area and moved to Prewitt, NM where Bill worked for Moutry Refinery. Their son Billy was born in Gallup, NM in 1944. In the late 1940’s and 50’s the family moved back to Abilene, then to Lubbock and finally back to Prewitt. Bill worked at Hanosh Chevrolet in Grants until Anaconda Miming built their uranium mill in the Grants area. When Anaconda built a housing area in Grants, the family moved to one of the Anaconda houses there. While living in Prewitt, Beth worked at LaFont’s Trading Post making Squaw Skirts and blouses, which were the rage for a while. Between Beth and her mother, Ruby, Kathryn was one of the best dressed girls in Grants. The two made all of Kathryn’s clothes. After moving to Grants, Beth worked in the bank for a while and then went to work for the Rural Electric Association in Grants, from which she retired in 1980. After Bill’s death in 1978, she stayed in the Grants area and worked until her retirement. She then moved back to Abilene to live with her mother and sister. After the death of her sister Mildred, Beth moved to Roswell to live with Kathryn and her husband Jim, until April 2011 when she became a resident of Bee Hive Home. Although she no longer sewed clothing, she had mastered the art of Counted Cross-Stitch Embroidery while in Abilene. She especially enjoyed the intricacy of southwestern scenery and Kachinas painted with her needle and thread. Beth joined Senior Circle soon after moving to Roswell. Although unable to go on any of the trips she did enjoy the lunches and breakfasts the group enjoys. She really looked forward to the Thursday afternoon stitching group. Even after moving to Bee Hive she still looked forward to Thursday afternoons. Beth was predeceased by her husband Bill, her parents Herbert and Ruby Stokes and two sisters, Mildred and Natalie. She is survived by her daughter Kathryn A. Goolsby Mangum, and husband, Jim; her son, Billy J. Goolsby and his wife Ronni; her brother Herbert E. Stokes, Jr. and sisters Maxine Morgan and Jeanne Gordon and husband Robert; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. Plus numerous nieces and nephews. Following her wishes, she will be cremated and her ashes will be taken to Grants and interred next to her husband, Bill. She passed away Saturday, January 12, 2013. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 2:00 pm at Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home with Vista Care Hospice Chaplain Herb Gage officiating. The family wishes to thank Jennifer and all the ladies at Bee Hive Home for their loving and wonderful care of our Mother. She really did have another home and family there.

Elizabeth (Beth) Stokes Goolsby

June 8, 1915 - January 12, 2013