Mary Jane Goalden age 80, of Hays, Kansas was born February 4, 1946, to Lee and Mary (Derr) Drake in Longmont, Colorado. She was the oldest of 7 children. The family didn't have a lot of money and moved around a lot to make ends meet. Being the oldest, she took on a lot of responsibility for her siblings, and they were very close to her and looked up to her.
On April 25, 2026, Nana was tired and went to meet her maker. She died peacefully with Randy by her side. She was secure in knowing that we were all on our way to fold Papa into our arms. The world will be a different place.
Mary Jane graduated from Longmont High School in 1964. Shortly thereafter, she married Burl Brown. In 1967, Mary Jane had her first child, a daughter named Stacy. In 1970, they had another child, Brian. In 1972, the family moved to Kansas and made their home there. When Brian started school, Mary Jane started a job as a Postal Clerk. This is where her career started. She worked her way up to Postmaster and did that for 35 years.
In 1980, Burl passed away quite suddenly, leaving Mary Jane as a single mother of two at the age of 33. Mary Jane worked hard and a lot of hours to support two children and made sure they had everything they needed.
In 1983, she then found Randy Goalden. She knew she had found the love of her life, and they raised their family in Gem, Kansas.
In 1993, Mary Jane got her first grandchild. When Nicoli Poitra came along, Mary Jane found her calling, she was now a Nana. She said if she had known how much fun grandkids were, she'd have started there. She and Papa doted on that child. She said, if she had known how much fun grandkids were, she'd have started there.
In 1999, she doubled her fun with another grandson, Zak Brown. She finally had her blonde-haired blue-eyed baby. In two years and exactly a week, along came Brock Brown. That was a whole new adventure. Mary Jane and Randy had their hands full taking the three boys on trips, going to all school functions and just loving being Nana and Papa.
In 2006, Nana retired from the postal service and could do all the things she loved to do, spend time with the boys, read and as we all know Facebook. She had coffee dates with friends and enjoyed life. Sadly, this was also the time she became ill. She hung in there and tried not to let it get the better of her.
In 2014, Brian married Rebecca Seltman. This was when Mary Jane finally got her one and only granddaughter, sweet and quiet Allie. Allie brought the only bit of "girl energy" into her life because Stacy wouldn't. Mary Jane embraced that, she could finally buy pink. Her true identity was being Nana. That is where she found her happiness, her purpose and her heart.
Mary Jane is survived by her husband, Randy; her daughter, Stacy; her son, Brian (Rebecca); her grandsons, Nicoli Poitra (Angie); Zak Brown; and Brock Brown; her granddaughter, Allie Seltman; her brother, Jim (Patty) Drake; her sisters, Connie (Bob) Olson; Becky (Frank) Aribas; her numerous nieces and nephews; and the community of Selden, Kansas.
Mary Jane was preceded in death by her brothers, Tommy Drake and Glen Drake: her sister, Norma Rowlison; her mother Mary Drake, her first husband, Burl Brown; and her best friend Sandra Koerperich.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays with Pastor Chad Pritchett, Officiating. A private family inurnment will be in the Gem Cemetery at Gem, Kansas at a later date.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.
The Family suggests memorials made payable to: Hospice of Hays Medical Center in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. Condolences can be emailed to clineschapels@gmail.com or left at the guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com