Elizabeth Goolsby Stout

Elizabeth Goolsby Stout, 65, of Jones County died January 22, 2019 after a short illness. Services will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 3:30pm in the Hart's Mortuary, Jones County Chapel in Gray, Georgia. The reverend Bruce Conn will officiate.

Beth was born on July 11, 1953 in Macon to parents William H. Goolsby, Sr. and Peggy I. Goolsby and moved with her family to Gray in 1961. She attended Gray schools and was active in sports, yearbook and church activities at Gray United Methodist Church. She graduated from Jonesco Academy in 1971 and was Valedictorian for the first graduating class. After high school, she moved to Atlanta to attend The Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech.). Her passion was the military and she was involved in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in Angel Flight and later became the first female Cadet Commander. She graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree and became a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Her first assignment was to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado as one of fifteen Air Training Officers assigned to help train the first class of women cadets. She later attended Navigator Training in California, was a Distinguished Graduate and went on to fly the KC-135 aircraft in Indiana. As she moved up the ranks, she held numerous flying and staff positions in California, Texas, Alabama and Georgia. In 2000, she retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel and moved with her family back to Jones County. As a retiree, she did volunteer work, was a substitute teacher at her daughter's school, was a big Braves fan who attended many games and traveled the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe. Her passion was watching her daughter grow up and achieve high goals, but she also enjoyed working at her family farm growing gardens and becoming a timber farmer.

Beth is survived by her loving husband of thirty-three years, Steven Stout of Jones County; her daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie Stout Stahl and Mark Stahl of Huntsville, Alabama; her brother and sister-in-law, William H. Goolsby, Jr. and Dena Goolsby of Gray; her sister, Leigh Goolsby of Gray; her nephew, William H. Goolsby III of Gray; her niece, Brianne Goolsby Allen of Jones County; and cousins, a grandniece and grandnephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who wish, make donations to their favorite veteran or animal charity. Beth's favorite animal cause was A Paw and A Prayer Jones County, 961 Eatonton Highway, Gray, Georgia 31032.

Hart's Mortuary, Jones County Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to sign the online guest registry.

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