Rita Hallowell

Rita L. (Redmond) Hallowell was born on June 19, 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama and then was adopted in Missouri by Russell and Thelma Sampson. Rita passed away peacefully on the afternoon of April 6, 2020, after her battle with Dementia.Rita lived in Kansas City, Missouri her entire life with the exception of short stints in Lake St. Louis, MO and Shreveport, LA. She had many loves over her lifetime, but she only married (then divorced) two, William J. "BillyBob" Redmond (deceased) and Franklin Kent Hallowell.Rita was a legal secretary for over 40 years and worked for several Kansas City based law firms, both large and small, and her specialty was in the area of medical malpractice. She played a key role in the start up of KCLSA, Kansas City Legal Secretaries Association, and she was actively involved with both the Missouri and National Association as well. She was very civic minded and was on several charitable boards, worked on every election campaign for long time Kansas City Mayor Charles Wheeler, member of Friends of the Zoo and Friends of Art-Nelson Atkins Museum.Despite impressive professional and civic accomplishments, Rita's greatest accomplishment was her children. She was a single mother working multiple jobs the majority of the time she raised her two children, Lisa Redmond Carter (53), of Lee's Summit, MO, and Jason Hallowell (41), of St. Louis, MO. Her children were afforded every opportunity in life and she was their biggest supporter through her expectations, encouragement, and active volunteering involvement in all their endeavors.Rita's thoroughly enjoyed music, art, shopping, and her relationships with her friends. But her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren, Nicole Mayfield (TX), Brittani Vallow (MO), Lauren Carter (MO), Lucas Carter (MO), and Edwin Hallowell (MO), and her only great granddaughter, Addyson Wyrick (MO). She made sure she attended nearly every one of their important functions like programs, concerts, awards ceremonies, sporting events, parties and graduations.She ALWAYS made sure her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren KNEW WITHOUT A DOUBT that they were special, that they were unique, that they were smart and capable, but most of all that they were LOVED!! She will be greatly missed!