Frankie J. Hayes

Frank James Hayes Jr., 53, Chief of Police of Goodland, KS passed away at his home in Goodland, Kansas on August 30, 2023. He was born on March 27, 1970 to Frank Sr. and Hilda (Snody) Hayes in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  

Frankie was united in marriage to Tamara Nichols on January 24, 2003 in Goodland, KS. To this union they brought four children Kallie, Michael, Victoria, and Cameron.

Frankie’s family meant the world to him, both his work family and his wife, children, and grandchildren.  They were his priority, and he was their Superman. He was extremely proud of his police department and the officers that made up his work family.  He always expected more out of himself than he did of others, and strived to be a leader he could be proud of.  He lived his life with integrity and respect for God and his fellow man. Frankie was a Deacon at the First Baptist Church.  He loved cooking, grilling, and smoking meats and feeding people, especially food from his Louisiana roots.  He loved riding his Harley; helping those in need; and wearing his crocs when he wasn’t on duty.  He was a die-hard New Orleans Saints and LSU football fan all of his life. Frankie received his Associate in Applied Science Degree for Business Management & Leadership with all honors in the Fall of 2021 from Barton Community College Online.  He then transferred to Fort Hays State University Online in 2022 and was 10 classes away from earning his Bachelors of Criminal Justice Degree.

Frankie had always wanted to be a police officer and in 2003 he was hired by the Goodland Police Department until he moved to Louisiana in 2007.  Greg Kroskey persistently called him year after year to see if he was ready to come back, and in February 2017 Frankie finally said yes.  Frankie was appointed as Goodland’s Police Chief on September 7, 2020, and was still serving the City of Goodland in this capacity.  Frankie always told his wife that the people and community of Goodland felt more like home than anywhere else he had ever lived, which was why he wanted to come back to Goodland.

Frankie is survived by his wife Tamara Hayes of Goodland, KS, his four children Kallie (Larry) Hollie, Michael Hayes, Victoria (Aaron) Ratcliff, and Cameron Hayes, his brothers and sisters Rebecca (Kevin) Stockman, Tammi Worrell, James (Suzi) Hayes and George “Buddy” Hayes. He is also survived by his grandchildren Chandler, Kaigen, Gracen Hollie, Leonidas Hayes, and Torin Ratcliff.

He was preceded in death by his parents Frank, Sr. and Hilda Hayes, and his grandparents.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the Goodland Police Department and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.