Patricia “Pat” Ruth Kies, age 81, of Lee’s Summit, MO, passed away March 23, 2026, surrounded by her husband, daughters, and family, while listening to her voice in one of her final quartet performances. All services will be on Saturday, March 28th at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church, 8941 James A Reed Rd, Kansas City, MO 64138. Visitation will begin at 11am, with Mass of Christian Burial at 12pm, followed by a luncheon in the Parish Hall. Memorial contributions may be given to the Kansas City Chorus of Sweet Adelines, 129 Nelson Circle, Olathe, KS 66061 with c/o Linda Smith - Treasurer, or to St. Regis Academy, 8941 James A Reed Rd, Kansas City, MO 64138.

Pat was born December 4, 1944, the daughter of Marjorie and Clarence “Larry” Brown, Jr. in Jefferson City, MO and raised in Liberty, MO. She graduated from William Jewell College with a degree in Mathematics. Her working life began in high school as a temporary switchboard operator at a local telephone company — a fitting preview of her later career at AT&T. She went on to build a long and distinguished career as a Computer Systems Programmer and Team Manager, including a role in the country’s first long-distance data transfer. It was at AT&T where she met her future husband, Dick Kies, in 1973. Dick and Pat were married on July 29, 1978, at St. Regis Catholic Church.

Pat’s other long-term devotion was to Sweet Adelines, which she joined in 1972. She was a baritone member of three choruses: the Independence Scale Blazers, the Twin Heritage Chorus, and the Kansas City Chorus as well as a handful of quartets over the years. Her love of barbershop music took her on trips around the world and gave her cherished, lifelong friendships. She gave generously of her time and talents to the chorus for decades, managing the chorus and region finances for many years. She received the Region 5 Spirit Award in 2018, being recognized as “An outstanding leader who gives selflessly of her time, talent, and expertise for the love and joy of singing.”

Pat’s greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was in raising her daughters, Courtney and Becky, and being “Gram” to her seven grandchildren. She was a patient, kind, and loving mother, who enjoyed confounding her children with obscure knowledge, whimsical creativity, and unexpected humor. She enjoyed sewing, making and buying jewelry, nature and bird watching, collecting road maps, solving crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and reading any book she could get her hands on.

She is survived by her husband, Dick, and her two daughters, Courtney Bokenkroger (Matt) and Becky Redmond (Thomas); sister Carol Monnens (Larry) of MN, and sister-in-law Kate Brown (Larry, d.2024); grandchildren Brett Kies, Calista Bokenkroger, Lucy Bokenkroger, Molly Bokenkroger, Grace Bokenkroger, Isabelle Redmond, and Quincy Redmond.

The Kies Family would like to thank the medical staff at KU Cancer Center and Kansas City Hospice for their kindness, care, and attention throughout the past weeks and years.