ADELE CORYELL HALL

October 7, 1931 - January 26, 2013 Adele Coryell Hall, long-time Kansas City-area civic leader whose lifetime of service made a positive difference in the lives of countless families in Kansas City and beyond, died January 26, 2013, while in Hawaii with her husband. The wife for nearly 60 years of Donald J. Hall, chairman of Hallmark Cards, Inc., was born Adele Coryell in 1931 in Lincoln, Neb. She learned the value of community service through the example set by her parents, who were deeply involved in the Salvation Army and other charitable organizations in Lincoln. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Nebraska (and avid Cornhusker fan), she served as president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, foreshadowing a gift for leadership that would serve dozens of civic initiatives throughout her life. She graduated in 1953 with a degree in elementary education and English, with the intention of becoming a teacher. But after marrying the love of her life Don Hall that same year, she found other ways to influence future generations, both through her devotion to family and the example she set for all who knew her. Adele was interested in a broad range of community needs with a special passion for the needs of children. She was tireless working toward those interests in any capacity needed -- as a visionary board chairman, energetic champion and catalyst for change, hard-working committee member, dedicated fund- raiser or hands-on volunteer. She held leadership positions on the boards of the United Negro College Fund, the Points of Light Foundation, American Academy of Pediatrics, Partnership for Children, the Menninger Foundation, George Bush Presidential Library Center and the Library of Congress Trust Fund, among others. Locally she was the first woman president of the Heart of America United Way, was a board chairman of Children's Mercy Hospital and the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and served on the boards of the Pembroke Hill School, Salvation Army, Starlight Theatre and American Red Cross. She also accepted innumerable assignments with these and many other community agencies and organizations over decades of service. In 1990 she was named Kansas Citian of the Year, the first woman to be so honored. She received numerous honors and awards including the Chancellor's Medal from the University of Missouri Kansas City, Philanthropist of the Year from the Kansas City Council on Philanthropy, the William F. Yates Trustee Medallion for Distinguished Service from William Jewell College, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Nebraska. Fittingly, she was also named the Kindest Kansas Citian by the STOP Violence Coalition. Her keen ability to recognize areas of concern, analyze possible approaches and pull together the people and resources to address them put Adele at the forefront of some of the most progressive initiatives serving women and families in the Kansas City area. She co- founded the Central Exchange to help diverse groups of women gather for networking opportunities and enhance their careers; a program to ensure that economically challenged women could also benefit from these programs was later endowed in her name. She also co- founded the Women's Public Service Network to empower women for leadership positions in corporate, city and state government positions. As the life-long partner of the leader of one of America's best known businesses, Adele also was a partner with her husband in many Kansas City-based civic endeavors. The couple was deeply involved in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's expansion project and shared a decades-long commitment to United Way. Together they established the local Alexis de Tocqueville Society to encourage major contributions to the annual fund drive, and in 2005 they received the national organization's top honor, the United Way of America's Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award. Adele's greatest philanthropic passions involved children -- their health, education and well-being. In addition to her support of numerous child-focused initiatives, she reserved a special place in her heart for Kansas City's Children's Mercy Hospital. She always adamantly believed in the potential for young lives to be made healthy and whole, and moved easily from rocking babies in the hospital nursery to chairing board of directors' meetings and leading multi- million-dollar fundraising campaigns. With professional golfer Tom Watson, she established the Children's Mercy Golf Classic, which over a quarter century raised more than $10 million for the hospital. She later took her enthusiasm and experience in children's issues to the national stage, representing the volunteer sector as a member of the National Commission for Children. She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Mo. As much as she gave of herself to others, family always came first. She met her future husband on a family vacation in Colorado when she was 3 and he was 6, and loved him all her life. Described by Don as a "true mommy," she baked cookies for school events, cheered at grandchildren's soccer games and orchestrated family celebrations. She enthusiastically modeled and shared the values of community service and social responsibility for her children and grandchildren. She focused on getting things done rather than claiming credit, building consensus without sacrificing principle, and bringing people together to accomplish more than any of them could individually. She actively engaged others in her efforts, and never failed to acknowledge their contributions. She was effervescent, gracious and compassionate, with an authentic interest and belief in the value of all people. She is survived by her husband, Don; sons Donald J. Hall, Jr. and his wife Jill and David E. Hall and his wife Laura; daughter Margaret Hall Pence and her husband Keith; nine grandchildren who fondly called her "Nunu:" Sarah Bloss and her husband Brian Bloss, Andy Pence, Helen Hall, Michael Pence, Will Hall, Rebecca Hall, Allison Hall, Katherine Hall and Julia Hall; her four-legged family Holly, Benny and Cory; hundreds of friends who will remember her ever- present smile and genuine kindness; and thousands of families who benefited from her vision of a brighter future and unflagging efforts to make that vision a reality. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, at Stine & McClure Chapel, 3235 Gillham Plaza, Kansas City. A Celebration of Life service will be 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 6401 Wornall Terrace. In lieu of flowers and in tribute to Adele's lifelong commitment to others, the family suggests contributions to The Children's Mercy Hospital, the Nelson- Atkins Museum of Art, The Pembroke Hill School, The Salvation Army, The United Way of Greater Kansas City, or Wayside Waifs. (Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer's Sons Stine & McClure Chapel, 3235 Gillham Plaza, KC, MO 64109) D