Mathew Douglas Goolsby

Mathew Douglas Goolsby of Windsor, Colorado, was born May 19, 1954, in Paris, Texas, to Maurice and Jo Ann (Huddleston) Goolsby. He died May 18, 2025, in Aurora, CO, one day shy of his 71st birthday. He was an oil and gas geologist.

Mat grew up in Arlington, TX, where his first job was selling newspaper subscriptions door-to-door at age 12. When he was 16, Mat began work as a groundskeeper at Turnpike Stadium in Arlington. The job included mowing and trimming the playing field, as well as chasing foul balls during minor-league baseball games.

He graduated from Lamar High School in 1972, then followed his older brother Steve to Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. Mat graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology.

Mat’s career as both an oil and gas wellsite geologist and as a minerals exploration geologist spanned 49 years. He was President of Goolsby Bros. & Associates, Inc., an oil and gas geologic consulting company established in 1981. Beginning in 2008, Mat was Vice President of Operations for Vecta Oil & Gas Ltd. He also was a partner in Geotesoro, LLC, and Coyote Oil & Gas, Ltd.

Professional memberships included Alpha Chi - National Honorary Scholastic Society; Sigma Gamma Epsilon - Scholastic Geological Society; Sigma Pi Sigma - National Scholastic Physics Society; Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists; American Association of Petroleum Geologists; and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Mat married Moon Ja Yi on May 22, 1987, in Aurora, CO, and by doing so became “Apa” to her children, Audrey and Larry. To them, he was always their “Texan dad who spoke a little funny”.

Like his mother, Mat had a life-long love of birds. He had a large array of feeders, many of which he built, and kept them full of bird seed. And like his dad, he was an avid fisherman who was partial to bass fishing. He also enjoyed backpacking, rock climbing, hunting and camping.

Mat loved to cook, especially stews, Texas chili and his self-proclaimed “World-Famous Buttermilk Cornbread.” He made sure Christmas feasts included a fruitcake and his homemade mincemeat pie, even if he was the only one eating them. He had a passion for bread puddings, often devising his own recipes such as his Dark Chocolate-Blueberry Bread Pudding, and generously shared his recipes with family and friends.

Mat was predeceased by his parents, Maurice and Jo Ann (Huddleston) Goolsby. He is survived by his wife Moon of almost 38 years; his daughter, Audrey Kopperud and husband Bryce of Timnath, CO; son, Larry Goolsby and wife Samantha of Severance, CO; son, James Kim and wife Mira of Erie, CO; brother, Steven Goolsby and wife Neal of Loveland, CO; sister, Kathy Goolsby of Arlington, TX; grandchildren, Halle Kopperud, Sophia Kopperud, Kaia Goolsby, Kaden Goolsby, Richard Kim and Alisha Kim; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mat often gifted donations to his grandchildren’s college funds. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests honoring Mat by contributing to the future of young scholars—either through a gift to a young scholar or college fund of your choice or by donating to Redeemer Lutheran Church - NextGen Ministries, which supports the spiritual and educational growth of the next generation.

A memorial service for Mat will be at 1 pm Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 7755 Greenstone Trail, Fort Collins, CO 80525. If you are unable to attend the service in person, we invite you to watch it by going to Redeemer’s website at redeemerconnect.com and clicking on the “Watch Live” button. Or, go directly to live.redeemerconnect.com.

A private viewing will also be held for Mat and his family on Monday, May 26th. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers on this day. Should you wish to send flowers for the viewing, please advise the florist to reach out to the funeral home for delivery information.

Should you wish to send flowers, Palmers Flowers in Loveland or Rowes Flowers in Loveland are preferred florists. Treasured memories of Mathew and words of sympathy for his family are welcome at resthavencolorado.com