Kate Marie Sharpless

Kate Marie Sharpless was born on July 9, 1958, in Bethesda, Maryland and passed away on August 18, 2024, in Fairfax, Virginia, after a brief but hard-fought battle with heart disease. Throughout her life, Kate served in many professional roles, working most recently for the Fairfax County Public Schools in the Transportation Division. She positively impacted the lives of many, serving her community with integrity and commitment.

An alumnus of the Maryland Institute of Art, Kate always had a love for art in all its forms. She was an amazing artist, adept in various mediums, and her works are treasured by her family. Kate's creativity and uniqueness extended beyond her art; she embraced life with a flair all her own.  Among her many interests, she cherished the Florida Keys, often engaging in scuba diving and snorkeling. An avid traveler, Kate was looking forward to retiring to the ocean in Delaware next year.

Kate was beloved by her family and was often referred to as the "cool, fun" aunt by her niece and nephews, embodying the spirit of fun, wit, and irreverence. She delighted in sharing playtime and adventures with her great nieces and nephews. Her personality shone as brightly as the art she created; she was fun-loving, artistic, and always brought joy to those around her.

In her passing, she leaves behind her cherished family members, including her sisters Mary Coburn and Susan Smith, her brother-in-law Leif (Rick) Coburn, her nephews Matthew Coburn, Joshua Smith, and Zachary Coburn, as well as her niece Sarah Smith. She also leaves behind her great nieces Emma Coburn, Meredith Smith, Callie Coburn and Evie Coburn, great nephews Caden Coburn, Kingston Coburn, and Jaxon Coburn,. Her dear friend Judy Ladson will continue to ensure that her beloved cat, Hercules, is cared for, a testament to their strong bond.

Kate is preceded in death by her father, Howard F. Sharpless, her mother, Elizabeth D. Sharpless, and was joined one week later by her brother-in-law Arthur (Ron) Smith. Her presence will be deeply missed, yet her spirit and legacy of love, creativity, fun and adventure will always be in the hearts of those who knew her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 19, 2024 from 2pm to 5pm at the Sandy Spring Museum. 17901 Bentley Rd, Sandy Spring, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Pennsylvania Liver Transplant Fund, ℅ Penn Medicine Development and Alumni Relations, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104.