By the time she was 17 years old, both her grandparents had also died, and she sewed to support herself, while studying at the Walton College of Expression in Spokane.

[2][3][4] In the 1920s Goude toured nationally[5] as "The Girl from the Golden West",[6] giving dramatic readings and impersonations[7] on the Chautauqua and lyceum circuits.

[8][9] In the 1930s she was based in Chicago,[10] and traveled for the Redpath Lyceum Bureau as "special campaign director", working with local Chautauqua committees to book speakers and performers.

[4][16][17] Goudie had small roles in the films East Side of Heaven (1939) with Bing Crosby, That's Right—You're Wrong (1939) with Kay Kyser,[18] The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940) with Loretta Young,[19] Third Finger, Left Hand (1940) with Myrna Loy, Jackass Mail (1942) with Wallace Beery, and Orchestra Wives (1942) with Glenn Miller.

Goude died in Los Angeles, California in 1966, aged 74 years.