Kathy Ann Bell

Kathy Ann Kirkpatrick was born on March 4, 1950, to Elton Dean and Pearl Peters Kirkpatrick (both deceased) in Safford, Arizona. She passed away after a long illness with Alzheimer’s disease on July 13, 2026. She had two older brothers, Robert and Tom Kirkpatrick, who both preceded her in death. Kathy was married to her husband, Raymond Arthur Bell, for 54 years and together they had three children. She is survived by her husband and children: Erin Bell Maldoff (married to Christian), Ryan Thomas Bell (married to Madeleine), and Colleen Elizabeth Bell. Her grandchildren are Emma Pearl Maldoff, Octavia Ellis Bell, and Esmé Dorys Bell. Kathy is also survived by her two step-sisters, Sonja Nelson and Laina Savage (James).

Kathy lived a full and wonderful life. She grew up in Arizona, first in Safford and then in Tempe where she attended Payne Training School through 8th grade. She attended Tempe High School and graduated in 1968. She attended Mesa Community College, earning an Associate's Degree. Following her graduation from Mesa Community, she attended Arizona State University as a music education major, where she met her husband, Raymond, in the ASU Sun Devil Marching Band. She played the flute and piccolo, and he played the trumpet. They were both Music Education Majors. They were united in marriage on June 5, 1972, in a ceremony performed by Raymond’s father, the Rev. Boyd Anderson Bell.

Kathy and Ray began their life together in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where their three children were born. Kathy always had a love for children and their development in the Christian Faith. She helped with Sunday School, Bible School, and all things related to Children's Ministry. After moving to Colorado Springs in 1985, Kathy continued her interest in Children' s Ministry. She attended Southern Methodist University to earn her Certification in Christian Education. This brought her to Calvary United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs where she became the Director of Children' s Ministry. She was passionate about guiding children in their early development on their faith journey. She was also in charge of Children' s Ministry at East United Methodist Church. A career change later in life brought her to work for Volunteers of America as Director of the Foster Grandparents Program in Southern Colorado. This position allowed her to continue caring for children’s education by recruiting elderly members of the community to serve as classroom reading helpers in low-income schools.

In 2017, Kathy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. She and her family began their journey of the long goodbye, savoring the moments of every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthday. They even took Kathy on her dream vacation to Hawaii to celebrate her and Ray’s 50th wedding anniversary.

Kathy passed away on July 13, 2026, at the Boulder Canyon Rehabilitation and Care Center in Boulder, Colorado, where she received wonderful and compassionate care. Kathy was a wonderful wife, mother, Grandmother (“Mockie”), and friend to many. She will be missed greatly. In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathy’s name can be made to: Alzheimer's Association.