Mary Katherine Ishee's Obituary
Mary Katherine “MK” Ishee, of Sperryville, Virginia, returned to her beloved Creator on July 13, 2025. She died at her home, in peaceful surroundings, with her loving family and cherished pets at her side. MK was a force of, and for, nature! Her choices in life reflected her love of people, nature, and animals. Her parents, Tommy C., and Maryclaire A. Ishee, had both been writers and federal civil servants. MK followed their example, working for US Department of the Interior (DOI) for most of her long career as an attorney, specializing in energy and the environment.
Born in Washington DC on Capitol Hill, she moved with her family to then rural Herndon, VA, at age 7. MK was ever after a Virginian, by choice. For the last 25 years, she lived quietly and simply in her personally restored church in Sperryville (which had been the historic Hopewell Baptist Church).
MK’s childhood was spent in rural Northern Virginia on her family’s 5 acres, freely roaming fields with the family’s 3 dogs, devising games and climbing trees with her siblings. She was the 7th of 10 children who remain close friends today, though scattered geographically. In her youth MK swam competitively and was a lifeguard (her favorite job!) and later, was an avid kayaker and hiker. She tenderly and vividly described the natural world in which her childhood was immersed, in her novel “Summerville” (as yet unpublished). At Herndon High School, she was President of the Honor Society. She graduated “with distinction” from the University of Virginia, majoring in literature and journalism. She earned her JD from the newly formed George Mason School of Law (now called the “Antonin Scalia Law School”), which later featured her in its recruitment literature.
Mk became a recognized expert in renewable energy policy; a coalition builder among diverse interests of stakeholders (including Federal and State officials, NGO’s, and industry), successfully negotiating complex legislative and legal interests. MK was a senior advisor to DOI leaders and to Congress, and two standing Senate Committees (Energy and Natural Resources, and The Environment and Public Works). Some areas of expertise were US public lands, renewable energy power, conventional fuels, environmental protection, and smart growth.
In retirement, MK continued her service to protect nature and its inhabitants, with a much more local focus, in her beloved Rappahannock County. She fostered animal welfare by helping to form RappCats, helped seniors age gracefully in place as the executive director of Rapp at Home, and fostered smart growth and conservation of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, in many ways, including by her work on the Rappahannock County Planning Commission.
Talented with words, MK wrote white papers, editorials, and in her personal life, a novel, poems, stories, and the occasional country music song, including her family's favorite MK song: a toe-tapping “Give it to God”. She deeply loved her two generations of nieces and nephews and thrilled them by creating funny (and frankly, terrifying) haunted houses. Later, they would tell scary stories in the dark, laughing, and roasting marshmallows. Very many of us knew first-hand, MK’s humor, generosity, and wise guidance.
Mary Katherine Ishee is survived by 9 brothers and sisters and their spouses: Tommy C. Ishee Jr., (Bettye), Elizabeth Sawyer (Wesley), John Ishee, Ellen Commerce, Laurie Christesen (Steve), George Ishee, James J. Ishee, Ann Ishee, and Jan Ishee. They, their children and grandchildren, many cousins, dear friends, neighbors and colleagues, and your sweet pets Pippen and Clairabelle now give YOU back to God, dearest MK. Thank you for everything. We will miss your beautiful, bright light!
The family will receive family and friends on Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, VA.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 10 a.m. at 873 Hawlin Road, Woodville,
VA with Fr. Horace “Tuck” Grinnell officiating.
Interment will be private.
An online guestbook and tribute wall are available www.foundandsons.com
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary Katherine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary Katherine?
Share a story where Mary Katherine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary Katherine you’ll never forget.
How did Mary Katherine make you smile?