Kay Mesle

Kay Mesle, 90, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2009, at the White Oak Living Center at The Groves in Independence, Missouri. Kay was born Alice Kathalea Sprague on December 21, 1918, in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of Harry and Ethel (Bayes) Sprague. She moved with her parents, sister Mary and brother Harold to Independence, Missouri, where she graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1935. She attended Graceland College, the Independence Sanitarium School of Nursing and Kansas City Business College. She worked at Skelly Oil Company on the Kansas City Plaza until she married Frank Carl (Carl) Mesle, Jr., on June 4, 1941.
The couple lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Kay worked for the USO, and Washington, D.C., while Carl served in the United States Army during World War II. Following his discharge from the Army, the couple moved back to the Kansas City area, finally making their home in Independence, Missouri.
Kay was active, with her husband, in the Community of Christ Stone Church congregation, where he was once pastor. She was a member of the Stone Church Women’s Department; she led her daughters’ Skylark and Oriole groups and her son’s Cub Scout Den. Kay particularly enjoyed cooking and was for several years responsible for the meals prepared in the Stone Church kitchen for congregation, community and World Church events. She was ordained an Elder in the Community of Christ Church in 1991.
Kay lived a life of service to her community and dedication to her family and many close friends. Her hobbies included cooking, stained glass work, crocheting and other crafts. Her passion for color and gardening combined to give her and others great pleasure throughout her life.
During her four years of living at The Groves, Kay spent hundreds of hours continuing to beautify her environment, maintaining the greenhouse and planting pots of flowers in the summer. She also visited residents in The Secret Garden of the Alzheimer’s unit and others who could not leave their beds.
Kay is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Harold Sprague. She leaves her sister Mary Scott of Independence, Missouri; husband, Carl, and her three children: Sharon Kay Morain (Bill), Catharine Ann Mesle (Terry Christenberry) and Charles Robert Mesle (Barbara Hiles Mesle); five grandchildren; four step grand-children and one great-grandchild. Kay also leaves behind many friends of all ages. She valued beauty and joy which she brought to the lives of all she knew.
Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 16, at the Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W. Lexington, Independence, MO. A Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, at the Stone Church Community of Christ Congregation. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Graceland University Honors Program Endowment Fund or the UMKC Law Foundation.