Mary Kathryn Seagle Israel
June 25, 1929 ~ January 20, 2025
Born in:
Kingsport, TN
Resided in:
Candler, NC
Asheville Butterfly TrailMary 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.
Inurnment will take place in the late spring at Green Hills Cemetery, Asheville.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.
Services
Inurnment:
Green Hills Cemetery
25 New Leicester Hwy.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-9831
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://grocefuneralhome.com
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One of my most favorite teachers!! Truly inspired my love of history. Ms. Israel always encouraged us to dream big.
Thank you and rest in peace.
She was my 8th grade teacher at Candler Elementary
Prayers for family and friends
She was a wonderful classy lady and I enjoyed teaching with her. Praying for her family.
I loved this lady. She was my 7th grade teacher and later I had the joy of teaching with her. We worked together to make our language arts programs viable and meaningful for all of our students. Go rest high…
Sorry to hear about Mrs. Isreal . She was a wonderful teacher. She loved her” kids”.Praying for the family.
She was my teacher at candler. She was the sweetest lady I’ve ever met. CAROLYN Messer Trull
Mrs. Israel was so delightful to visit with, her character and class were unbeatable.
Prayers for her family
May God bless you all. She was a great person.
She was the teacher that always stands out that gave me the tools to become a good student and have a love of reading. You are missed. God speed!
Mary Katherine befriended my mother, Dorothy,when she was at Pisgah Villas. They were quite the pair!!! They were so much alike, well dressed, smart and both with a great sense of humor. We were so happy that they had formed such a friendship. She was always so kind to all of us and showed interest in our family as well.
Mary Kathryn (Mrs Israel) was not only my teacher who taught me to love history but she was a dear friend. We had wonderful visits over the years and I will miss her dearly. She was a beautiful lady inside and out who always had a smile for me. I learned about her family history and also about Candler. Her three nieces Anne, Schell, and Carol meant so much to her and she was so proud of each of you. I will keep all of you in my prayers. Rest well my friend I will miss you and I love you.
Deepest condolences to Schell, Anne and Carol and your families on the loss of your aunt.
She was my 8 th grade teacher she will be missed
Mrs. Israel was a great teacher and a beautiful woman. I am thankful to have known her.
Mrs. Israel taught my eighth grade class and made a lasting impression. She was a teacher from her heart and encouraged me to do my best. I can still diagram sentences!
Prayers to the family. My grandfather, Guy Carter, was fishing buddies with J.O. And cherished their friendship. He missed him terribly when he passed away. I remember many “fishing” stories from them. Our thoughts are with your family.
Mrs. Israel was my 7th grade English and Social Studies teacher. (Social Studies was basically History way back when I was a student ;-). I had heard all the tales of how demanding she was as a teacher and approached the first day of class with more than a little dread. All the dread was a waste of energy. She delighted in her students and their learning and we learned well because of it. My stock response to my kids when proofreading one of their papers is — “I never learned any English grammar after Mrs. Israel because she taught me everything I needed to know.” That knowledge carried me through undergraduate and two graduate degrees. I was blessed to have her as a teacher.
I was a student for Mrs Israel in the 7th grade. She was, and still, a great teacher.