Obituary for Kathleen M. Hayter
Kathleen was born on August 6th, 1938, in Denver, Colorado to James and Mary Kelly. The family lived in Denver the first 10 years of her life surrounded by her father's family then moved to a little town called Wein, Missouri. Here, her parents ran a business for a short time with members of her mother's family, the Schneider's, in Chillicothe, a town close by.
The Kelly family made their third and final move to the Kansas City area. It was here that Kathleen and her siblings completed grade school and high school, Kathleen graduating from St. Mary's High School in Independence, Missouri.
During her senior year, Kathleen was class Treasurer, a member of the National Honor Society, and crowned Queen in the Halloween Parade held in Independence, Missouri.
Kathleen entered Nursing School at St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri in 1957. She graduated with a Diploma of Nursing and during that time held office of Treasurer, a member of the Sodality group (participants assisted the Sister’s and Chaplain with Religious Activities), a District #2 Representative, participant in Mass Choir, and was a Miss Student Nurse Candidate.
After graduating Nursing School, Kathleen worked at several places in the Kansas City area. These included, Baptist Hospital, VA Hospital, and Blue Ridge Family Clinic. She went on to enlist as an officer in the United States Air Force out of Kansas City, Missouri with her first assignment, France. There she met and married Kermit Hamer Moffatt an Airman in the service. Her commitment to the armed services was short, however, as during that time a female could not remain active when with child. She received an honorable discharge in New Jersey in the mid-1960s.
The young couple were stationed next in Niceville, Florida where Kathleen gave birth to three of their children. So, began the life as a military wife. They spent a little over three years in Florida and then the deployment of her spouse overseas encouraged the move to her parents’ home in Independence, Missouri. Over the next year and a half, the young couple communicated by letters and audio tapes. Kathleen returned to work in the Kansas City area and with the help of her sister’s family and her parents met the needs of her growing family. Kermit returned to the states and gathered the family together for their next station, Spokane, Washington where the fourth and last of their children were born.
The couples’ final assignment, before Kermit’s retirement, was Whiteman Air Force Base just south of Knob Noster, Missouri. Kathleen had come home. She worked as a School Nurse during those years, while living on base. Their next home landed them in Springfield, Missouri. They both loved that area and resided in town several years while settling down to true “Civilian Life”. The final family move was to Fair Grove, Missouri where they finished raising their children.
Kathleen moved back to Springfield as a single woman in 1984. Life continued uneventfully until she met Junior Hayter. The two married on February 2nd, 1988, where she joined Junior on his farm in Walnut Grove, Missouri. There they began blending their families together hosting countless dinners, holidays, and that memorable Easter Egg Hunt. In Kathleen’s words, “We accomplished more in 12 plus years together, than most do in a lifetime.”
Kathleen held several nursing positions in Springfield, Missouri. She began working at St. John’s Hospital, (Mercy) and continued her career with the Visiting Nurses Association, WIC, the Red Cross, and her last post was the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks retiring in 2000 to care for Junior in his last 6 months of life. After her husband passed, Kathleen moved to Willard, Missouri, 2001, where she lived out the remainder of her life.
Kathleen Hayter is survived by her children, Kim McMillian (Allen), Lynn Artz (Larry), Tim Moffatt, Cherie Moffatt, son-in-law, Don Gillam and her late husband’s children, Kathy Burk, Rex Hayter and Randy Hayter, her brother, Robert Kelly (Cynthia), her brother-in-law, Everett Wehner, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband, Junior H. Hayter and his daughter, Karen Greeson, her infant son, James Violas Moffatt, daughter, Cindy Gillham, her parents, James & Mary Kelly, and her sisters, Joan Wehner and Patty Kelly and sister-in-law, Linda Kelly.
Kathleen lived her life as a devout Catholic and served her Lord in the manner of which she lived, quiet, unassuming, and humble. Towards the last years of her life, she was unable to attend Mass (physically), but read out of her daily devotional. She gave of herself to family, friends, and co-workers. A selfless person who continued her nursing role even after retirement caring for family members who needed their very own bedside nurse.
In closing, Kathleen was a daughter, a sister, and wife, a mother, and a friend. She maintained those relationships both in person and by letter writing. She let you know how important you were and loved each of us unconditionally.
Kathleen’s Memorial Mass will be held at Noon on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1115 N. Campbell Avenue, in Springfield, Missouri with Father Karl Barmann, Celebrant. Interment will then follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com
The Kelly family made their third and final move to the Kansas City area. It was here that Kathleen and her siblings completed grade school and high school, Kathleen graduating from St. Mary's High School in Independence, Missouri.
During her senior year, Kathleen was class Treasurer, a member of the National Honor Society, and crowned Queen in the Halloween Parade held in Independence, Missouri.
Kathleen entered Nursing School at St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri in 1957. She graduated with a Diploma of Nursing and during that time held office of Treasurer, a member of the Sodality group (participants assisted the Sister’s and Chaplain with Religious Activities), a District #2 Representative, participant in Mass Choir, and was a Miss Student Nurse Candidate.
After graduating Nursing School, Kathleen worked at several places in the Kansas City area. These included, Baptist Hospital, VA Hospital, and Blue Ridge Family Clinic. She went on to enlist as an officer in the United States Air Force out of Kansas City, Missouri with her first assignment, France. There she met and married Kermit Hamer Moffatt an Airman in the service. Her commitment to the armed services was short, however, as during that time a female could not remain active when with child. She received an honorable discharge in New Jersey in the mid-1960s.
The young couple were stationed next in Niceville, Florida where Kathleen gave birth to three of their children. So, began the life as a military wife. They spent a little over three years in Florida and then the deployment of her spouse overseas encouraged the move to her parents’ home in Independence, Missouri. Over the next year and a half, the young couple communicated by letters and audio tapes. Kathleen returned to work in the Kansas City area and with the help of her sister’s family and her parents met the needs of her growing family. Kermit returned to the states and gathered the family together for their next station, Spokane, Washington where the fourth and last of their children were born.
The couples’ final assignment, before Kermit’s retirement, was Whiteman Air Force Base just south of Knob Noster, Missouri. Kathleen had come home. She worked as a School Nurse during those years, while living on base. Their next home landed them in Springfield, Missouri. They both loved that area and resided in town several years while settling down to true “Civilian Life”. The final family move was to Fair Grove, Missouri where they finished raising their children.
Kathleen moved back to Springfield as a single woman in 1984. Life continued uneventfully until she met Junior Hayter. The two married on February 2nd, 1988, where she joined Junior on his farm in Walnut Grove, Missouri. There they began blending their families together hosting countless dinners, holidays, and that memorable Easter Egg Hunt. In Kathleen’s words, “We accomplished more in 12 plus years together, than most do in a lifetime.”
Kathleen held several nursing positions in Springfield, Missouri. She began working at St. John’s Hospital, (Mercy) and continued her career with the Visiting Nurses Association, WIC, the Red Cross, and her last post was the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks retiring in 2000 to care for Junior in his last 6 months of life. After her husband passed, Kathleen moved to Willard, Missouri, 2001, where she lived out the remainder of her life.
Kathleen Hayter is survived by her children, Kim McMillian (Allen), Lynn Artz (Larry), Tim Moffatt, Cherie Moffatt, son-in-law, Don Gillam and her late husband’s children, Kathy Burk, Rex Hayter and Randy Hayter, her brother, Robert Kelly (Cynthia), her brother-in-law, Everett Wehner, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband, Junior H. Hayter and his daughter, Karen Greeson, her infant son, James Violas Moffatt, daughter, Cindy Gillham, her parents, James & Mary Kelly, and her sisters, Joan Wehner and Patty Kelly and sister-in-law, Linda Kelly.
Kathleen lived her life as a devout Catholic and served her Lord in the manner of which she lived, quiet, unassuming, and humble. Towards the last years of her life, she was unable to attend Mass (physically), but read out of her daily devotional. She gave of herself to family, friends, and co-workers. A selfless person who continued her nursing role even after retirement caring for family members who needed their very own bedside nurse.
In closing, Kathleen was a daughter, a sister, and wife, a mother, and a friend. She maintained those relationships both in person and by letter writing. She let you know how important you were and loved each of us unconditionally.
Kathleen’s Memorial Mass will be held at Noon on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1115 N. Campbell Avenue, in Springfield, Missouri with Father Karl Barmann, Celebrant. Interment will then follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com