Mary Kathryn S. Israel

Mary Kathryn Seagle Israel, 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 20, 2025, in Candler, NC.

Born in Kingsport, TN, Mary Kathryn was the only child of the late Daniel Henry and Veva Deal Seagle, both natives of Catawba County. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Judge James O. Israel, Jr.

Mary Kathryn spent part of her early childhood on her family’s farm in Catawba County, up until her father ultimately resumed working in Tennessee. She attended Mars Hill College and Meredith College, each for a year, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s degree from Western Carolina University.

For decades, Mary Kathryn was a renowned teacher in the Candler and Sand Hills schools in Western North Carolina. She is remembered especially for her 7th and 8th grade history classes. After her retirement, Mary Kathryn remained an enthusiastic student of history and social science, filling her days with the reading of nonfiction books and discussions of current events. She was fascinated by every period in human history, from earliest known civilizations through to the 21st century. She was also an accomplished genealogist in her family.

Mary Kathryn is survived by her three nieces, Schell Ponder Alexander (Peter), of Marshall, Anne Ponder Brookhouse (Christopher), of Marshall, and Carol Ponder (Robert), of Nashville, TN; her namesake grandniece, Kathryn Alexander Martinuzzi (Christopher), of Marshall; her grandnephew, Samuel Alexander (Grace), of Signal Mountain, TN; her great-grandnieces, Elsa Anne, Alice, and Poppy; and her great-grandnephew, Woods.

The family is deeply grateful to the staff and residents of Pisgah Villa Assisted Living Community in Candler, for the love and care they gave to Mary Kathryn over the last eight years.