Nancy Jane Hayselden

Nancy Jane (Swan) Hayselden, 84, of Shawnee, Kansas passed away June 14, 2026.

Nancy was born on February 12, 1942, in Wichita, Kansas, to Harvey and Ruth Swan. She grew up in Mulvane, Kansas, and graduated from Mulvane High School in 1960. She attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, where she majored in Biology, minored in Music, and met the love of her life, Thomas K. Hayselden, Jr. They were married on August 23, 1964, and enjoyed 61 years of a wonderful life together.

Tom and Nancy began their married life in Lyndon, Kansas, where Nancy taught school. She later taught science at Hillcrest Junior High School until the birth of their first child in 1968. In 1983, she returned to education, working in the office at Hocker Grove Junior High School, where she remained until her retirement in 2001.

After moving to Johnson County, Tom and Nancy searched for an Episcopal church to call home. One day, while driving home from work, Nancy passed St. Luke's Episcopal Church and noticed its iconic red door. They attended services the following Sunday and immediately found their church home, where Nancy remained an active member for the rest of her life. She served as a Sunday School teacher, choir director, Mininger Bible Study teacher, Senior Warden, and member of a search committee that helped call a new priest. Nancy not only loved her church family; she truly lived her faith every day.

Nancy loved traveling and spent her entire life camping. During retirement, she and Tom enjoyed 25 years of RV travel throughout the United States and Canada. On their 50th wedding anniversary, they celebrated with a cruise to Alaska, completing a lifelong goal of visiting all 50 states together. Nancy also traveled extensively abroad, visiting Australia, England, and much of Western Europe. A lifelong student and teacher, she loved learning everything she could about the places she visited.

Throughout the years, Nancy was an active member of numerous camping organizations and formed many lifelong friendships through them, including Midwestern Rovers, National Travel Campers Jayhawkers (Masonic), Monaco Wan-A-Go's, and FMCA. Although the National Travel Campers group no longer camps together, its members continued gathering monthly to play cards and stay connected.

Nancy was a 66-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She joined Fern Chapter in Mulvane at age 18 while her parents were serving as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron. During college, she attended Miriam Chapter in Emporia and later transferred her membership to Beatrice Chapter No. 450 in Shawnee. She served her chapter as Worthy Matron multiple times and held numerous leadership roles, including District Aide, Grand Representative, and service on various Grand Chapter committees. One of her proudest accomplishments was serving as Grand Esther during the 2018–2019 Spirit of Love and Aloha year while her daughter served as Worthy Grand Matron. Alongside her husband, Nancy found great joy and purpose in the Masonic family organizations that were such an important part of their lives.

Nancy was proud of her children and their accomplishments, making every moment in time spent with them special and loving. Her unique mannerisms that are endearing to her will always be remembered when stories are told. Nancy was extremely proud of her grandchildren and bragged about their accomplishments or hobbies they enjoyed. Her outpouring of love toward her grandchildren could be heard when she shared stories about them.

Nancy was surrounded by her loving family when she passed away on June 14th, 2026, from bacterial pneumonia. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Ruth Swan, and her brother, Charles Swan.

Nancy is survived by her devoted husband, Thomas K. Hayselden, Jr.; her four children, I.R. Mililani Hayselden (Robert Dykstra), Mary R. Kalikookalani Hayselden, Thomas Kauwilaokalani Hayselden III (Heather Lyn), and Harvey Kulani Hayselden (Heather Kay); and her six grandchildren: Brody, Dacey, Max, Amelia, Hunter, and Hatcher.

Nancy's life was defined by faith, family, friendship, service, and a love of learning and adventure. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, dedication, and love that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00pm, Thursday, June 25, 2026 at the Amos Family Funeral Home, with a Eastern Star ceremony at 7:45pm. A Celebration of Life will take place at St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 11:00am. Nancy will be laid to rest in the Memorial Garden of the church. A bereavement reception will follow her burial.