Hattie Kathleen MacArthur, 81, of Savannah, GA, died on July 15, 2014 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Kathleen was born on August 8, 1932 in Wichita, KS. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Malcolm Douglas MacArthur, and her three children, Max, Karl, and Samantha, and eight grandchildren.

After studying political science at the University of Kansas, she spent a lifetime traveling the country and the world, eventually settling in Bethesda, Maryland. Kathleen worked on Capitol Hill with Senators John Sherman Cooper and Hubert Humphrey, including serving as press secretary for Congress's Joint Economic Committee. In addition, Kathleen was a published author. Her book, Spies Behind the Pillars, Bandits at the Pass, recounting her years as a foreign service officer's wife in Kabul, Afghanistan, was published in 1972 and included a nationwide book tour. It was favorably reviewed by the New Yorker magazine and other publications and persons, including Barbara Walters. Kathleen's lifelong love of learning took her around the world and led to a graduate study program at Exeter College at Oxford University and several self-published novels. Her creativity extended to incredible culinary skills and fine oil painting. Upon retirement, Kathleen and Malcolm moved from their Bethesda home and split their time between Savannah and Monpazier, France.

Often described as fun, adventurous, and witty, Kathleen's energy and enthusiasm for life was second to none. Every endeavor, whether celebrating Christmas with her family or navigating the renovation of a home in a foreign country – without speaking the language – was filled with laughter, love, and fabulous storytelling. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
Memorial donations for Kathleen can be made to Human Rights Watch, Women's Rights Division, 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10118-3299 or www.hrw.org.