Kathleen "Kathee" Anne McCright

Kathleen “Kathee” Anne McCright, 81, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa, with a Celebration of Life to begin at 4 p.m.

Following her graduating from high school in Troy Mills, Iowa, and some college classes at the University of Iowa, Kathee worked for the Kilborn Photo Paper Company and was somewhat active in local politics. However, along with her friend, Pat Browne, the two young girls decided to move to a larger city with more opportunities, so they moved north to Minneapolis where the boys were!

In Minneapolis, Kathee worked for a Catholic organization during the day and volunteered for a Minnesota State Legislator who was running for Congress in the evenings, by the name of Bill Frenzel. In 1971, Bill won his Congressional seat and asked Kathee to move to Washington, DC to work in his Congressional office, which she did. Over the next several years, Kathee became an expert in election law, among other issues. She was quite a known quantity and was recruited by many organizations but accepted a senior position at the Forestry Products Association where she spent the next few years organizing their Political Action Committee fund. Kathee was well known in DC and in 1991, Kathee was recruited by the newly elected Governor of Minnesota, Arne Carlson, to manage his Minnesota office in Washington.

During the time in Washington, DC, Kathee took college classes during the evenings and eventually graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor's degree, as well as a master’s degree in history.

As Kathee left her life DC, she returned to her home state of Iowa to begin the most challenging and rewarding chapter of her life. Kathee started her family with trips to Cambodia, where she found the loves of her life in Timothy and Christopher. She adopted and raised them in Cedar Rapids. Kathee threw herself into the schools with the same passion that she had given to our country in government…participating in classrooms, PPA, PTA, show choir, band, swimming, countless bake sales and so many other activities.

Kathee was a Scout mom, participating in hikes, Pine Wood Derby and popcorn sales. She loved watching the boys make their massive cakes in the father-son cake bakes with the Elliotts. She supported all teams, clubs and interests as her boys grew up. She was a Taekwondo mom, helping the boys practice their forms as they prepared for their next belt testing. She loved neighborhood parties and all the lifelong friends she met along the way.

Kathee stayed connected with other families who adopted children from Cambodia and was able to find and establish a wonderful relationship with Chris’ biological brother, Chantha, and his family. She believed in the importance of embracing our past as we build our future.

Kathee has also continued her political leadership here in Iowa. She has volunteered in every role from door knocking, to calling thousands of voters, poll watching, and most importantly, to teaching young volunteers how to start honest respectful conversations with older voters. She focused on how to share thoughts and feelings to create open dialog between generations.

Kathee was overjoyed that Chris has found his lifelong love in Hannah. The high point of her life was Chris and Hannah’s recent wedding with Tim keeping everything running smoothly. It was a life well lived.

Kathee is survived and lovingly remembered by her sons, Timothy McCright and Christopher “CJ” (Hannah) McCright, both of Cedar Rapids; sister, Eileen Dietman of Cedar Rapids; and brother, Mark (Pat) McCright of Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her parents.