Kathryn H. Goddard, age 92, died gently at her home with her family in attendance. She was born Aug. 14, 1917, and left with her cousin who had died 10 hours earlier, along with their accompanying angels, on Aug. 6, 2010.
Gladys Kathryn Hansen was born and raised in Spencer, Iowa, to Ferdinand "Fred" and Maren "Mary" Andersen Hansen. She helped teach in the oneroom schoolhouse where she had graduated. They moved to Eugene, Ore., during the Great Depression where Kay worked for the University Press. She then moved to Denver, Colo., to do electrical work on P29 airplanes for the Army Air Corps for the World War II effort. It was there she met and married Lester O. Goddard (deceased in 1996). They returned to Eugene after the war where they raised their four children until moving briefly to British Columbia, Canada. They moved in 1956 to Arizona, locating in Las Vegas in 1958 and, lastly, in 1970 to Carson City.
Everyone who knew Kay loved her because of her friendly, outgoing nature. She made friends in every neighborhood, every church and every employment she undertook (the latest was as a school crossing guard at the Mountain Street and Winnie Lane corner, resigning in her 80s). Her respect for all people in different generations, races, and religious backgrounds knew no limits. She fostered peace, gentleness, humor, perspective and a bottom line of love in her family and in interactions with everyone she met and knew. Gardening, P.E.O., walking, socializing, and loving were her specialties.
Kathryn leaves on earth her three daughters, one son, and their spouses, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Locally they are daughter and son-in-law Lynn and Tom Farrer, granddaughter Katie Williams, and great-granddaughter Lyndi Day of Carson City; grandson Sean Gervie and his wife Cindy live in Stagecoach. Living out of state are Mary Louise and Charles Gervie of Brookville, Md.; Joanne and Daniel Sears of Decatur, Ga.; and Curtis and Mary K. Goddard of Seattle, Wash. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren live from the coastal states of Washington and California to Maryland and Georgia, and range in age from 42-3 years old.
The family is appreciative of the help received from the First Presbyterian Church, PEO sisters, RSVP, St. Mary's Hospice of Northern Nevada, neighbors, and friends. Donations in Kay's name may be made to the charity of your choice where they will be gratefully received.