Nancy Kathleen “Kathy” Maher passed from this life on June 9, 2026 following a brief illness.

Kathleen was born on September 12, 1961, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as the second daughter of John and Nancy (Mills) Maher. She attended Dickson Schools from first grade through graduation and was a star student who always strived to be the best in both her studies and her life. In high school, she was a star basketball player, earning All-State honors and playing guard, known for her knack for shot-blocking and strong defensive abilities (those were the six-on-six days). Her talent earned her a walk-on spot, later a scholarship, on the Oklahoma State women’s basketball team, where she lettered for four years. Kathy graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and continued her studies there, earning a Master of Science in animal science with a focus on ruminant nutrition. During her time at Oklahoma State, she was recognized as a Top Ten Senior and Top Woman in the College of Agriculture.

Upon graduation, Kathleen moved to Cherokee, Oklahoma, to work for what is now the Farm Service Agency in Alfalfa County and spent several years there before returning home to farm and ranch with her father, John. Kathleen then spent the next several years working alongside her father, uncle, and brother-in-law, farming. As an animal lover, she often caught flak for being a bit of a bleeding heart in ranch life, serving as the adoptive mother to many bottle calves and strays of all kinds.

Kathleen was civically engaged and community-minded, serving numerous committees and boards, including regent for the University Center of Southern Oklahoma, membership in the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program Advisory Board, the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University, and the Carter County Cattlemen’s Association. Active in many other organizations and a patron of the arts, she especially enjoyed coaching sixth-grade girls’ basketball at Dickson, an experience that eventually led to assisting on the high school staff when her niece, Erin, was on the team.

Devout in her faith, even nicknamed “the holy one” by her family, Kathy attended St. Mary Catholic Church and immersed herself in all facets of church life: singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, serving as president of the women’s club, bringing communion to the home-bound, acting as a sacristan, and serving as a lector. She strived to be the best at all of her endeavors, and the church was no exception; she was named “Woman of the Year” at the church and was the state runner-up for educator of the year in faith formation.

She was a doting aunt to her nieces and nephews, even brainwashing them to call her “Aunt Kathleen, the most beautiful princess.” She planned campouts in the front yard, taught them to ride horses and swim, to bake tea rings at Christmas (even though she hadn’t mastered the art of baking), and never missed an opportunity to show up and support them. Her love and support extended beyond her family as she was a loyal friend and collector of people. The kindness she showed to everyone made her a favorite of many.

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, John and Nancy Maher, and her sister, Peggy Maher. She is survived by her sister, Mary White, and husband, Keith; sister, Patricia Maher; brother, Sean Maher and wife Julie; nieces and nephews, Alyssa Allen and husband, Zac, Danny White, Erin Anderson and husband Jordan, Colleen Swagerty-Maher and husband John Swagerty, Maggie Maher, Katie Walker and husband Zack, and Mark Maher. She had six great nieces and nephews: Barrett and Brandt Allen, Harper White, and Logan, Lane, and Aubrey Anderson.

A mass of Christian burial will be at St. Mary Catholic Church on June 15, 2026, at 10AM. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery. A rosary and time of visitation will be on Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 5-7PM at Craddock Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Kathleen’s honor may be made to the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation or the St. Mary Catholic Church building fund.