Mary Ann "Mimi" Goolsby

Mary Ann Goolsby

 

February 20, 1939 – September 17, 2026

 

If you knew Mary Ann Goolsby, our beloved “Mimi”, you know that she was not someone who quietly passed through this life.

 

She arrived.

 

And when Mary Ann arrived, everyone knew it.

 

Mary Ann passed away on September 17, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of love, laughter, memories, stories, friendships, and a family who will forever carry a piece of her with them.

 

Born on February 20, 1939, in San Marcos, Texas, Mary Ann was the daughter of Salvador “Sam” Velazquez and Angelita “Nena” Velazquez. She grew up in Jacinto City, Texas, alongside her four brothers and graduated from Galena Park High School in 1957.

 

Even as a young woman, Mary Ann had a personality that could not be contained. She was a cheerleader and a member of the Homecoming Court, a perfect reflection of the vibrant, outgoing young woman she was. She had a sparkle about her, a confidence, a beauty, and an energy that drew people toward her. She often reminded us, "I could run, I could jump, I could flip" reflecting back on her days as a cheerleader. 

 

Everyone knew Mary Ann.

 

And Mary Ann knew everyone.

 

She had the rare ability to make people feel as though they had known each other forever.

 

Mary Ann was also a woman who believed in herself. She possessed an entrepreneurial spirit and was never afraid of hard work or a new adventure. Over the course of her life, she became a licensed cosmetologist, worked in real estate, served as a Harris County title clerk, and worked in payroll and bookkeeping.

 

But in 1979, she took a leap and created something of her own.

 

She opened The Mail Handler, one of Houston’s early private mailbox rental businesses. As an agent for UPS, FedEx, and the United States Postal Service, Mary Ann was ahead of her time. What seems commonplace today was innovative then. She built a successful business and operated it for more than 14 years before eventually selling it.

 

That was Mary Ann. She saw an opportunity, rolled up her sleeves, and made it happen.

 

But for all of her accomplishments, her greatest treasures were never found in a business or on a balance sheet.

 

They were found in the people she loved.

 

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1996, Mary Ann married her life-long love, Joseph Robert “Joe Bob” Goolsby, and became Mrs. Goolsby. Their nearly 27 years together were filled with love, companionship, laughter, travel, and the simple joy of having someone beside you with whom to share life. Joe Bob preceded her in death on January 11, 2024.

 

Mary Ann loved deeply.

 

She adored her brothers and sisters-in-law. She loved her nieces and nephews. And she was incredibly proud of her sons, George and Kelly. Being their mother was one of the greatest joys of her life.

 

She also loved her friends—many of whom became family.

 

Mary Ann loved to entertain. She loved to dance, especially with her brother, Joe who affectionately called her, "lil' britches". She loved a gathering, a celebration, a reason to cook and share a good story. She loved and enjoyed fine dining experiences, but I think she loved "Fajita Flats" even more. She loved a beautiful outfit, high-heel shoes, jewelry, a reason to laugh, and, of course, a reason to go shopping.

 

She loved children. It was not unusual to see Mimi sitting cross-legged on the floor surrounded by kids, playing games.Children brought out the best in her. They illuminated her child-like spirit.  

 

Did I mention, she loved to shop?

 

She loved to travel and experiencing the world. She loved birthdays, holidays, parties, special occasions, and even the ordinary days that could be turned into something special simply because Mary Ann was there.

 

She celebrated people.

 

She celebrated life.

 

And she made sure people knew they were loved.

 

There was something unforgettable about her. Her beauty was striking, but it was her personality that stayed with you. She was magnetic. She was charming. She was funny, expressive, generous, and wonderfully herself.

 

She never knew a stranger.

 

And she never let anyone else remain a stranger for long.

 

Mary Ann had a way of filling a room, not simply because she was there, but because she brought herself fully into every moment. Her laughter, her stories, her opinions, her smile, and her unmistakable presence became part of the memories people made with her.

 

Those who loved her will remember the sound of her voice.

 

They will remember her laugh.

 

They will remember her stories.

 

They will remember what she wore, what she said, where she wanted to go shopping, the celebrations she hosted, and the countless little moments that seemed ordinary at the time but will now become priceless memories.

 

And beneath all of that personality was a woman with a deep and abiding faith in God.

 

Mary Ann prayed.

 

She talked about prayer. She believed in prayer. She leaned on her faith through the joys and disappointments of life. Her relationship with God was not simply a part of her life, it was the foundation she returned to again and again.

 

As life became more difficult, she clung to that faith.

 

And now, after a life that was full of both triumph and challenge, laughter and heartache, love and loss, we trust that she has found the peace she believed in so deeply.

 

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Salvador “Sam” Velazquez and Angelita “Nena” Velazquez; her beloved husband, Joseph Robert “Joe Bob” Goolsby; her brothers, Robert Eugene Velazquez and Joe Albert Velazquez; sister-in-laws Eula Mae Velazquez and Benita Velazquez; and her niece, Peggy Davis.

 

She leaves behind her sons, George Wesley Hawkins and John Kelly Hawkins; her brothers, Larry David Velazquez and Donald Eugene Velazquez; sisters-in-law, Billie Velazquez and Mary Velazquez; nephews, Lawrence Velazquez, Jr. and Donny Velazquez; nieces, Laurie Starnes, Joni Kremer, Desiree Dillard, Denee Murillo, Traci Harmon, Staci Ann Velazquez, Vikki Shelton, Janet Acorda, Eva Velazquez, and Kathy Harris; along with numerous cousins and countless friends who loved her dearly.

 

Among those special friends are Maria and Richard Rose, and Sandra Joblonicky whom she considered as sisters; Samara "Sami" Iraheta her primary caregiver whom she considered as her daughter; and Bennie Reid, whose friendship brought Mary Ann love, companionship, laughter, and treasured memories throughout her life.

 

To know Mary Ann was to experience her.

 

She was not ordinary.

 

She was vibrant. She was beautiful. She was strong. She was loving. She was sometimes stubborn. She was always memorable.

 

She was Mimi.

 

And while there will be an emptiness in the rooms she once filled, there will also be so much to remember and so much to be grateful for.

 

Her family will carry her love forward.

 

Her friends will tell her stories.

 

Her laughter will live on in the memories of those who heard it.

 

And every time someone walks into a room with a little extra flair, starts telling a great story, plans a celebration, or suggests that it might be time to go shopping, someone will smile and think of Mary Ann.

 

Everyone knew Mary Ann.

 

And those of us who were blessed enough to truly know and love her will never forget her.

 

Rest peacefully, Mimi.

 

You were loved.

 

You are missed.

 

And you will always be part of us.

 

"As long as I am living, my mommy you'll be."

 

A Rosary will be offered at 10 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 1705 8th Street, Galena Park, Texas. A final blessing and internment of the remains will take place immediately following the Mass at San Jacinto Memorial located at 14659 E Fwy, Houston, TX 77015