Kathleen A. Riseman, 71

Kathleen Riseman

GORHAM — Kathleen “Kat” Ann Riseman, 71, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at Maine Medical Center.

A daughter to Catherine (Delvo) and John J. Lucy, she was born in New Rockford, North Dakota, on June 16, 1947.

Kat’s creativity, adventuresome spirit, and seemingly bottomless generosity afforded her an abundance of life experiences with a wide circle of friends and family. She grew up in Fargo, N.D., and pursued higher education at NDSU. On summer break, Kat followed the “Call of the West” to Colorado for a summer job working at a dude ranch — an experience that forever instilled in her a love of Western landscapes and culture. Yet, it is the East Coast that beckoned her to move, leaving Fargo for Boston in the early 70s. This stepping stone paved her way to southern Maine, where she resided for the past forty years. Kat was successful in her careers as co-owner of the Village Tie-Up in Harrison, marketing and resource director for UNUM and various regional nonprofits, and later as copy editor at Tyler Tech, from which she retired in 2013.

Laughing, traveling, reading, gardening, spending time with friends, and sailing — a pursuit in which Kat met her second husband, Jim Skinner — were some of her favorite pastimes. Whether it be the holidays or the long summer weekends at the lake, in the kitchen or in the barn, “Mama” Kat especially loved sharing moments with her children and grandchildren. Kat was happiest when the entire family gathered, and just like every phone call, she never wanted these nights to end. Her spirit lives on in our memories, and her presence will be sorely missed.

In addition to her parents, Kat was preceded in death by her only sibling Joan (Lucy, Foy) Nelson. Living loved ones include husband Jim Skinner; daughters Alexis (Riseman) Bergman with spouse Beth (Eisenberg) Bergman; Sasha Riseman; sons Ben Riseman with spouse Rebecca (Golden) and Max Riseman with spouse Mandie (Lasselle); grandchildren Rex Riseman, Linden and Aliza Riseman, Liam Doherty, Kai Bergman; nieces Jodi (Foy) Buchan and Juli Foy.  

Visitors joined the family in honoring Kat on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 1 to 3 p.m., at Dolby Funeral Chapel, 76 State St., Gorham. A celebration of life open house was held at the family home.