Kimberly Ann Hall (Trout)

is honored with a Large Paver from Randall D. Hall

May 29, 1953 – May 7, 2018

Of all the lessons Kim taught us, the best one is this:
Live every moment to the fullest. Choose to be happy.

For Kim Hall, "Choose Happy" was not a phrase to be taken lightly. She lived it every single day, even in the worst of times. And, like most of life's most important lessons, seeing this truth in action made the rest of us believers.

Kimberly Hall was raised in Haysville, Kansas, and spent her life learning, and teaching. She was the middle daughter of John W. Trout, Jr. and Dee Trout. She loved exploring her world and trying new things.

As a little girl, Kim happily caught frogs, climbed trees, and ran barefoot in all kinds of weather. She was outgoing and friendly. She loved bright colors, music and art. From the day she learned her colors, her favorite was purple – and it never changed.

Kim was a "comforter." She was both brave and good-natured. She always favored the underdog and had so much empathy for others that she would cry when they were hurt or punished. She couldn't bear to see others suffer; yet she faced her own illnesses without flinching. When she was just six years old, she survived kidney cancer, living far beyond what doctors predicted. This was miracle life number one. In March of 2017, when she was diagnosed with liver cancer, she fought it bravely, again living longer than doctors thought possible. This was miracle life number two.

She attended Haysville, KS, schools, graduating as a National Honor Society student from Campus High School in 1971. She attended Fort Hays State University one year, completing her Bachelor of Arts in Education at Wichita State University in 1975 and her Master of Education in Educational Psychology at WSU in 1983.

Always, Kim lived life on her terms, taking great joy in every moment. Of all her siblings, Kim is the only one who took flying lessons, the only one to complete her Master’s Degree, and the only one to go skydiving.

She married the love of her life, Randy Hall, on April 17, 1976. They lived and shared a true "Love Story" for over fifty years. As they would say many times "they were meant to be". Together they raised three children: Andi Michelle, Abby Nicole and Adam Daniel Trout Hall.

She was a devoted wife and mother, sister and friend. Her grandchildren knew her as their beloved "Nana" who treasured her time with them. She had five "grand's" – Brickston and Banks Bowman, Ethan Houser (who was stillborn), Breckon and Berkleigh Houser.

Although Kim always said, "teaching is who I am," she was also a talented artist and an inspiration to those who knew her. She created many beautiful drawings for family and friends. She taught school in Haysville for 38 years – 15 in special education and the remainder in the first grade. Over the years, she introduced her students to a variety of art forms and taught them to have confidence in their work. She found something special in each of them, and, because she believed in them, they began to believe in themselves – learning and doing far more than they realized was possible. This was her gift to others, and she gave it freely everyday – probably without even knowing how powerful a gift it was.

Her favorite quote was, "Life is what you make it," and she was determined to make every day a happy one. She leaves behind a legacy of love and joy, as well as hundreds of children touched by her message.

Kim's family continues to "Choose Happy" each day, in loving tribute to her memory.