April 6, 1944 — January 13, 2021

The Rev. Catherine Rinker Hillquist, a retired priest of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, has passed peacefully from the ravages of Alzheimer’s into the company of the saints in Light. At her side were her devoted husband, David Kent Hillquist, and daughter, the Rev. Dr. Emily Hillquist Davis (Warren J. Davis). Kitty is also survived by her well-loved grandchildren Sophia Catherine Davis (Ben Tyler), Alex Rosborough Davis, and Christian Bernhard Davis; her siblings John Alan (Mary Kathryn) Rinker, Carolyn (Jeff) Davis, Charlotte (Ken) Turner, and Cynthia (Steve) Comes; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her parents John and Esther Rinker and brother Randolph (Laurie) Rinker preceded her in death.

Born in Washington DC, Kitty grew up in Falls Church, VA, fully involved in Glencarlyn Road Baptist Church with her parents and siblings. She studied education at Madison College (at the time, a women’s school). A wildly successful blind date with a VMI cadet over Valentine’s weekend 1965 resulted in a happy 55-year marriage.

Kitty was determined and capable — never one to be daunted by large projects. As a young army wife in 1970, she chartered a jet for 200+ military wives to meet their husbands for R&R in Bangkok. Over the years, she managed more than 20 family moves (with various pets), making us feel at home in Oklahoma, Germany, Virginia, Georgia, Indiana, California, Missouri, and anywhere life might take us.

While David completed his MBA after returning from Germany to Richmond, VA, Kitty held administrative positions to support the family. In Georgia, she prepared income taxes, and turned to corporate taxes in Indianapolis, soon becoming a district manager for H&R Block. In California, after completing all accounting courses at San Bernardino Community College, she audited accounts at Boeing on behalf of the Defense Contract Audit Agency.

Her prayer life and our family’s involvement in successive church communities deepened over the years. We reckon she served in most lay leadership roles before she finally —in her mid-fifties— answered a call to ordained ministry. One of many blessed coincidences marking her life is that she and David had moved to Claremont, CA, just two years earlier, so she had a commute of only two miles to pursue her MDiv at Bloy House Episcopal School of Theology. She was ordained in the Diocese of Los Angeles: Deacon in 2000, and Priest January 6, 2001. With her grandchildren in mind, she stuck a pin in the map at St. Louis and drew a 200-mile radius in which to seek a church. Much to her delight, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ironton, Missouri, called her as their Vicar. She served there until her retirement in 2016, having also taken All Saints’ Episcopal Church in nearby Farmington under her wing for about five years. Living in the beautiful Arcadia Valley was a balm for her and David. They always enjoyed nature walks, camping, and country drives to explore the regions they made their home in.

Kitty made sure St. Paul’s was open every day for prayer, and her pastor’s heart was known in the broader community. She managed the refurbishment of the historic church building that had fallen into disrepair. She worked with church members and community leaders to secure funding to revamp the community food bank and bring a medical center to the region. She was touched when the Arcadia Valley Chamber of Commerce named her Woman of the Year in 2012.

Dry wit, diplomatic and financial savvy, a love of Baptist hymns and other music, and tenacious devotion to family, church, and community stood her well in all her accomplishments. Also: quite the card shark in family circles, Kitty employed that fast-thinking cleverness generously and broadly. Her deep faith in Jesus Christ was most evident in her ability to love steadily and unconditionally with heart, mind, soul and strength.