Patience Kay Ballance—known to nearly everyone simply as Kay, and to her grandkids as the unforgettable “Grandma Blue Hair”—passed away at her home in Edwards, Missouri, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Chris Hahn. She left this world the way she lived in it: surrounded by love, laughter, and absolutely no strangers.
Born on September 16, 1950, at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, Kay grew up in Independence, Missouri, where she attended William Chrisman High School. It was there she discovered two of her life’s greatest joys: getting into just enough mischief and making friends who stuck with her through every wild story.
Kay was a retired autoworker and proud member of UAW Local 249. She was known for her strong work ethic, loud laugh, love of a good prank, and a personality big enough to fill any room. She was a country girl through and through, with a love for cowboys, horses, dogs, wide-open spaces, and anything involving adventure—preferably the kind that ended with a tale no one else could tell quite like she could.
She adored the outdoors, lake days, all-terrain vehicles, mud runs, crafts, the lottery, and the Kansas City Chiefs (who she was convinced could hear her cheering through the TV). Holidays were her season to shine, and she never missed a chance to add excitement, surprises, and the occasional prank to the festivities.
Her grandchildren adored their “Grandma Blue Hair,” a nickname she wore like a badge of honor—especially when it justified yet another bold hair color. She never met a stranger, collected friends everywhere she went, and kept everyone entertained with her quick wit and fiery spirit.
Kay is preceded in death by her parents, Paul L. Ballance, Patience M. Carter, and Fred Carter; her sisters Wilma Taylor, Sue Ballance, and Paula Osborn; her son Michael A. Thompson; and her grandson Kylar Reed.
She is survived by her four children: Steven Thompson of Missouri City, Paula Hahn of Edwards, Reginald Jones Jr. of Independence, and A’ndrea Griffith-Brower of Saint Joseph. She also leaves behind her siblings, James Ballance and Billie M. Ballance; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and countless nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who will forever cherish her stories, her humor, and her larger-than-life presence.
Kay lived boldly, loved deeply, and made sure her life was one worth telling stories about. Her memory will live on in every laugh, every adventure, every shared tale, and every person lucky enough to have known her.
A Celebration of Life and Pot Luck lunch will begin at 3:00 PM Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Sportsman’s Paradise 31710 Shenandoah Ave. Warsaw, Missouri. Bring a side dish.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice in memory of Kay Ballance.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Reser Funeral Home, Warsaw.
