Rev. Kathleen Sue Hall

Affectionately known as “Chaplain Kathy,” Kathy served as the full-time, on-site Chaplain at Bishop Spencer Place in Kansas City where she was well-loved by residents, their families, and staff. As the Chaplain at Bishop Spencer Place, Kathy was one of the fortunate few to find the job she was always meant to have. It was a joy, not work at all, each day as she provided spiritual guidance, comfort, and friendship to the residents and their families. Although to be honest, she did not care much for some of the administrative side of the job, like budgeting.

On December 3, 2011, Kathy was ordained as an Episcopal Priest during a beautiful ceremony at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City. This was the culmination of a life long spiritual journey. Mother Kathy (women priests in the Episcopal Church are referred to as “Mother”) initially served at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (now St. Peter and All Saints) before moving to Bishop Spencer Place.

Kathy has an impressive list of academic achievements, holding a Bachelor Degree in Education, a Juris Doctor degree, a Master of Library and Information Science degree, and a Master of Divinity degree. Utilizing those degrees, she had a varied and meaningful work history as a foreign language teacher, attorney, law librarian, and Episcopal Priest/Chaplain.

An avid reader, Kathy would often go through two or three books a week. Her reading list showed a wide variety of interests, although Kathy tended to focus her reading on the world of fiction reading the works of authors such as Stephenie Meyer (the Twilight series books), Stephen King (“It” / “The Stand”), J.K. Rowling (the Harry Potter books) and Agatha Christie (Miss Marple and Poirot series.) She and her husband had a particular fondness for British murder mystery television shows and movies.

Kathy was a talented musician and arranger, even though she could not read music. Early in her adult life, Kathy was a member of a small traveling band, playing guitar and singing. Life happened and that traveling band experience did not last long. Later, Kathy would take up the hammered dulcimer (not to be confused with the mountain dulcimer). She had heard the hammered dulcimer at a festival in Michigan, loved the sound and purchased one without knowing how to play it. She did not really learn to play until she came to Kansas City in 1996 and met another hammered dulcimer enthusiast who gave her lessons. Before you knew it, Kathy was part of a band that performed throughout the Kansas City area. She would play guitar, dulcimer, and sing. After that band, Kathy would just play for fun with the other dulcimer player. Ultimately, they formed their own group featuring the two dulcimers, guitar, and other musical instruments played by the third member of the group. Kathy would make beautiful arrangements for their song repertoire, blending instruments and voices into a lovely work. This group mostly played at nursing homes, long-term treatment facilities, and residential retirement centers.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 24 years (James Rynard), her sister (Becky Foster), brother (John Hall) and his wife (Carol), four stepsons (Daniel, Paul, John, and David), two nephews (Michael and Jeffrey) and eleven grandchildren.

Services will be held Saturday, April 24, 2021, at St. Peter and All Saints Episcopal Church, 100 E. Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, Missouri, beginning at 10:30 a.m. (Masks are required)

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in the memory of Kathy Hall to Episcopal Relief and Development or Wayside Waifs, in Kansas City, Missouri.