Sharon Kay Bishop

Sharon Kay Tridle “Kay” Bishop age 81 passed away on November 11, 2026 in the Northcare Hospice in North Kansas City, Missouri.

Kay was born on August 29, 1945 in Parsons, KS. She was later adopted by her parents Lloyd Aaron Tridle and Beulah May (Johnson) Tridle. She grew up in McCune, Kansas, and graduated from McCune High School in 1962.

After high school, Kay spent the next two decades living in Kansas City, checking out Hollywood, CA, and eventually marrying and having her only child, whom she would raise as a single-mom. While Kay was in Hollywood she ended up with a gig in the pool house of legendary comedian Bob Hope, and she met him.

In 1981, Kay answered a call to ministry and became a United Methodist Local Pastor. She went on to become an Associate Member-Deacon in the Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church. Throughout her years in ministry, she served the congregations of Galesburg and Thayer; Admire, Allen, and Miller; Belleview and Highland; Oswego and Chetopa; and Hartford and Neosho Rapids.

Kay was a trailblazer for women in ministry at a time when female pastors were still uncommon, particularly in rural Kansas. She was often the first woman appointed to serve as pastor of the congregations she served. Her ministry helped open doors and broaden perspectives, not only within her churches but also in the lives of those she encountered beyond the pulpit. Many of her daughter’s friends have remarked that Kay was the first female pastor they had ever met and that her example was an inspiration in their own lives.

In between serving as a pastor Kay took a job moonlighting as a rural newspaper carrier for the Emporia Gazette. Her route was in Chase county, and she enjoyed driving through the beautiful Flint Hills 6 days a week for several years. Her grandsons went with her many times and her daughter made the rounds a few times. The views were breathtaking, and the storms that could come up suddenly were often severe.

In 2006, Kay retired from pastoral ministry and moved to Kansas City, Missouri. There she began a new chapter in her life working in security dispatch for Rockhurst University before eventually retiring completely.

Kay loved to ride motorcycles and have adventures. She rented a camper in the early 90s and took her oldest grandson Alex with her to explore the Smokey Mountains. She took several motorcycle camping trips into the Colorado mountains, and immediately upon retirement rode down to Arkansas for several weeks.

Kay is survived by one daughter, Kristi Renae Bishop (Chris Decker) of Overton, NE; two grandchildren, Alex Rice (MJ) of Oceanside, CA, and Ethan Rice (Amber) of Spring Hill, KS; three great-grandchildren, Kayden, Tucker, and Addison; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd Aaron Tridle and Beulah May (Johnson) Tridle; her sister BJ; her brother, Roger, and her former husband, Donald Bishop.

Kay leaves behind a legacy of service, individuality, and courage. She will be remembered not only for the congregations she faithfully served, but for the many lives she touched, the barriers she quietly broke, and the possibilities she helped others see. Over the course of her life, Kay touched many lives with her unique personality, her distinctive perspective on life and religion, and her willingness to approach both in her own way. Her influence extended far beyond the walls of the churches she served, and the impact of her ministry continues in the lives of those who knew her.

In accordance with Kay’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and an internment will be held in Emporia, KS at a later date in the Spring of 2027.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Northcare Hospice in North Kansas City Hospital, where she received amazing care the final week of her life.

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