Yes. This may seem morbid. But, I promise there's a good reason. A professional obituary is written while you're alive to define the legacy you want to build.
It’s a personal guide that helps you stay focused on impact, not just titles, and reminds you what kind of work — and person — you want to be remembered for.
Mary Katherine Gunn, Beloved Creative and Mentor, Dies at 81
On March 11, 2086, Mary Katherine Gunn — known to family, friends, and colleagues simply as MK — passed away peacefully at her home in Magnolia Springs, surrounded by those who loved her most.
Her children shared that she died from complications related to aspartame overconsumption and stress-induced cardiomyopathy — a bittersweet reflection of her lifelong devotion to hard work and her unapologetic love for diet soda.
MK was born in 2005 in Fairhope, Alabama, where her parents encouraged her creativity and curiosity from day one. Art called to her early, but it wasn’t until college at the University of Alabama that she truly found her voice. She tried everything — band, theatre, glassblowing — but eventually landed on becoming a communications professional. As part of Minerva’s tenth cohort, UA’s competitive creative advertising program, MK discovered what would become her life’s work. She started as a copywriter, drawn by her love of writing, but soon realized art direction was where her heart really lived. That decision shaped everything that came next.
After graduation, MK launched what would become a celebrated career, landing an internship at 72andSunny in New York. But true to herself — and her love of sunshine — she eventually headed west to Los Angeles. There, she thrived. From Junior Art Director to Senior, she shaped campaigns for major brands like the NFL, Mattel, Google, and Wilson. Sports had always been part of her story — growing up on ballfields watching her oldest brother play, falling in love with softball, baseball, football, and eventually F1 racing. She poured that passion into her work, bringing energy and emotion to everything she touched.
Her next chapter took her to Portland, Oregon, where she joined Wieden+Kennedy as a Creative Director on Nike — a dream gig that allowed her to blend storytelling, sports, and culture on a global stage. Whether celebrating icons, uplifting underrepresented voices, or crafting campaigns that resonated far beyond billboards and screens, MK made work that mattered. She also collaborated closely with ESPN, expanding her storytelling to an even wider audience.
Later in life, MK felt the pull of home. She returned to Alabama to teach at the University of Alabama, first as an adjunct and later full-time in the Minerva program that had once shaped her. As a mentor, she was beloved — known for her candid feedback, real-world wisdom, and fierce belief in her students. She didn’t just teach; she poured into people.
Even then, she never stopped creating. MK launched her own agency, where she continued to push boundaries and bridge culture, sports, and branding. From local athlete initiatives to global campaigns with clients like Formula One, she stayed true to her vision: make work with heart. Always.
Through it all, she never lost sight of what mattered most. She loved mentoring, volunteering, and lifting up others just as much as creating. Those lucky enough to know her will remember her for more than her incredible work. They’ll remember her warmth, her infectious laugh, her fierce loyalty, and the way she showed up — whether over home-cooked meals, long hugs, or quiet words of encouragement at just the right time.
Mary Katherine Gunn lived a life full of passion, creativity, and generosity. Her legacy spans continents and communities — in the work she made, the students and colleagues she inspired, and the lives she touched through stories only she could tell.
