Kathleen Dee Hall-Holmes

 

March 4, 1961 - August 30, 2008

Kathleen Hall-Holmes, who died Aug. 30 of a viral infection of the brain, was known locally for her efforts to inspire others in the HIV/AIDS community to live their lives joyfully.  She was 47.

 

Hall-Holmes was former Chairperson and long-time board member of United Communities AIDS Network, and worked as a volunteer with the Thurston County needle exchange project. She tried to raise awareness of the importance of embracing life on its own terms.   "She was an absolute gift to me," said her husband of 15 months, Fred Holmes of Lacey. "It was a privilege to have had the time together that we had.  She was all about having love and happiness in the moment," he said. "The main thing was her service to the community and her passion for life."

 

Born in California, Hall-Holmes was diagnosed HIV positive in 1994, 10 years after she was exposed to the virus.  She used retroviral drugs to manage the virus.  In June 2007, she married Holmes, the former husband of her late sister, who had died of cancer.  In a May 28, 2007, story in The Olympian, the couple spoke of their shared loss and how they were able to balance the joy of their new relationship with love and respect of their sister and wife.

 

Survivors include a son, Christopher; mother Dottie Hall of Olympia; sister Lucretia Fligner of California; and nephew Brian Fligner and niece Chandra Holmes, both of Olympia.

I first met Kat in December, 2002 at the UCAN Christmas party.  I had been in Olympia for less than six months.  I thought at the time, “Who’s this mouthy broad?”  I came to know her as a tireless advocate for those in our community who are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.  Her work on the HIV/AIDS Consortium, her volunteer work with UCAN, the needle exchange and  Planned Parenthood, to name a few, will be sorely missed.

Michael Waggener

UCAN Speaker’s Bureau Coordinator

For all those who did, and for those who didn't, have the pleasure of knowing Kat,  she was a women of sheer perseverance.  She had a fierce force about her that screamed of independence.  With a fiery spirit, and a real love of life itself, and despite life's trials and tribulations in which we all share, Kat was always rediscovering a new purpose for living,  .  Whenever life kicked Kat in the mud, she always found the strength to pull herself back into the saddle again.  As she did when she was about ten.

 

Kat wanted a horse, and so her parents took her to a few stables.  The first horse Kat had tried didn't have the right stuff, so they went to another stable to see a second horse.  As soon as Kat saw the horse, she knew he was the one for her. Upon trying to ride him, she was thrown to the ground and covered in mud.  Determined not to be beaten by a horse,  she got right back on.  She named him "Hash" and she and the two of them became the best of friends and went on to win many ribbons in competition.  Some of  her favorite memories were riding bareback in the Pacific surf with Hash near their home in San Francisco.

Making her debut with The San Francisco Ballet's production of The Nutcracker, Kat went on to become a trained ballet and modern dancer and loved to dance. But a twice broken foot ended her career. Still her love of dance remained in her life and spontaneous pirouettes became a common form of joyous expression.

 

After the birth of her son, Christopher, Kat was filled with a sense of nurturing,  so she started school to become a midwife.  Then tragedy struck Kat's life - Kat had discovered she had HIV.  Once again life tried to steal her thunder.  At this time Kat was given the most difficult challenge of her life.  Being the pillar of strength which she definitely was, she once again began to pursue new roads.  This time leading her to help better her community. 

 

Kat volunteered at several of our local community organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Needle Exchange, Bread & Roses, Thurston County Health Department, and our very own UCAN, where she was dedicated to spreading HIV/AIDS awareness,  as well as starting a women's group.

 

Kat and her mother Dottie had the best friendship.  They lunched, shopped and did everything they possibly could together.  Kat was quite the snappy dresser and she always kept her mom up with the latest fashion. 

 

Kat found her true happiness, that not even life could steal away from her, when she married her true love, Fred.  He stood by her side, just as she stood by his, in whatever endeavors in Kat's life she chose to take on. 

 

And so I say to you Kat - you are an inspiration to us all !  May you rest in PEACE knowing your works will carry on.

 

-- Jessica Colpitt

"Virtutem Forma Decorat"

 

 "Beauty Adorns Virtue"