Dr. Kathryn Hopkins Kavanagh, age 81, of Mathias, WV passed peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Kathy leaves behind her children, Mark Kavanagh and his wife Kim, Gregory Kavanagh and his wife Erica, and Kristin Kavanagh; her husband of 59 years, William Kavanagh; her brothers, Nelson, Timothy, Michael, and Gregory Hopkins; and her three grandchildren, Cassie, Hannah, and Grayson Kavanagh.

Always an advocate for critical thinking, Kathy was an exceptional teacher and student advocate. She was first a nurse, then a psychiatric nurse, then an anthropologist, and ultimately earned a PhD in Medical Anthropology. She taught at the University of Maryland, where she guided students through summer workshops on Lakota reservations in South Dakota, managed a Navajo reservation nursing program for the University of Northern Arizona, and taught medical anthropology courses at universities in the Baltimore area. In retirement, she further developed her skills as a hand-built stoneware potter. Here again she excelled in both the art and its instruction, while building extraordinary friendships through heartfelt letters and wide-ranging travels. Her family, friends, and students were enriched by her tremendous culinary skills, her boundless generosity and her joyful commitment to fostering understanding across cultures.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, November 9, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at McKee Funeral Home, Baker, WV.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Yorktown Heights, NY.

All arrangements are being handled by McKee Funeral Home, Baker, WV.