Jean Alice Gould

Jean Alice Gould, 69, was born in Reading, KS on February 18th, 1954 and passed peacefully in her sleep at home on February 6th, 2024 in Lawrence, KS.

Jean’s parents, George and Ruth Ford, gave her a quintessential rural upbringing along with her three brothers, Tom, Pat, and Mike on a farm outside of Reading. They regularly attended the Baptist church and were active members of the community. When she was old enough, Jean was often the church accompanist. Her talent for piano was also called upon at school where she accompanied the school choir.

After she graduated in 1972, she continued her music education when she attended Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. In addition to piano, she considered a degree in Home Economics but eventually settled on Education with an emphasis in English Language Arts.

While student teaching in downtown Wichita–a shock for Jean, who was accustomed to small town people and wide open spaces–she learned of the Baha’i Faith. The Faith would go on to shape every aspect of her life. She became an enthusiastic, highly devout believer, and she made it her life’s mission to be an exemplary Baha’i and to share this great blessing with everyone.

After surviving student teaching, Jean took a job at the Youth Center, a school for delinquent boys, in Topeka. In her words, “[…] the classes were small, the discipline strict, and I soon discovered that after growing up wild on the prairie with my three brothers, teaching at the youth center didn’t feel that much different from home” (Gould 8).

While there she met Ron, who was a cottage parent not an inmate as they liked to joke. After a brief courtship, Ron and Jean wed on December 29th, 1977. They would go on to stand by each other’s sides for the next 46 years. Soon after marrying, Ron and Jean decided that city life wasn’t for them, so they relocated to Winfield. There they welcomed their children, Elizabeth, Jon, and Ellen, whom Jean stayed home with until they were school aged. At that point she returned
to her teaching career, but in a new capacity, as the English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher for the Winfield school district. During their 17 years in Winfield, Jean was part of the bedrock of the community both in the Baha’i community and in welcoming and caring for her students’ families, many of whom were Laotian immigrants.

In 1996, Ron’s career took the Goulds to Halstead, KS. At that time, Jean decided that she was ready for a career change herself and began teaching piano. As was her way, she built yet another beloved community around her piano families, and she created a fledgling Baha’i community as well. As she would tell you herself, she was always teaching the Faith.

In 2006, Ron and Jean left Halstead for an unexpected adventure in Chicago. Both of them took jobs with the Baha’i National Center, and Jean experienced her first office job, which, after the restrictive experience of public school, in her words was “a revelation” in its flexibility. During that time she deepened even more in the Faith and became an expert in Baha’i law.

However, in 2013, Jean was called back to Kansas to care for her grandchildren. Care and support of her children and grandchildren was always her first priority in life. She was so dedicated to them that she was willing to spend a year and a half living separately from Ron until he returned to his previous career in Kansas and came home.

Over the next eleven years, Ron and Jean tried a few different homes in a few different towns: Bel Aire, Halstead, Hesston, and then Lawrence. During that time, Jean poured her love over her family right up until the moment she passed.

All through her life, Jean put her whole self into every activity she did. She continued to play piano, she created beautiful quilts and embroidery, she was an avid cook, she was a writer, and she likely could have had degrees in natural medicine and the art of Feng Shui. Bridge was an important pastime for her off and on, especially in the last five years.

Jean was passionate, stalwart and full of life. She was the ultimate hostess and wanted everyone to feel welcomed.

Jean leaves behind her husband, Ron, their children: daughter, Elizabeth; son Jon and wife, Sarah; and daughter Ellen and husband, Matt. As well as her grandchildren: Ethan, Beau, Ava, Piper, and Xander. Additionally, she’s survived by her two brothers, Tom and Pat and their families, in addition to numerous cousins. And finally all of the friends that she made in every place that she lived.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Mike.

Jean’s family held an intimate graveside service on Thursday, February 8th, 2024 at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, KS. A family memorial service will be held later this month.

Jean adored fresh flowers. If loved ones would like, they can send arrangements to 1603 Brandon Woods Ct, Lawrence, KS 66047, by Saturday, February 17th, 2024 which the family will enjoy at her memorial service the following day. Cards would also be welcomed, especially if they share their favorite memory of Jean.