Mary Kathleen Valentine (Kathy), 67, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, formerly of Houston, Texas and St. Marys, died unexpectedly of natural causes on Oct. 29, 2016 in her home.

Kathleen was born July 17, 1949 in St. Marys. She graduated from Elk County Christian High School and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Arts from Penn State University. After college, Kathleen worked as a graphic artist and typographer in ad agencies, energy companies and high tech companies from Houston, Texas to Camden, Maine, finally settling down in Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1995. In 2003, she started her own design business, creating websites, advertising and promotional material for clients. She also began to write and when the digital book revolution arrived she was ready. She was the award-winning author of novels, novellas, and short story collections, as well as books of knitting patterns and a cookbook/memoir about growing up Pennsylvania Dutch. Kathleen has been listed as an “Amazon Top Selling Author” in horror, mystery/suspense, cooking and knitting.
In her own words, “”from the Allegheny Mountains where she grew up, to the Gloucester seaport where she wrote, Kathleen loved nothing more than listening to the stories that people tell while sitting on front porches, gathered around kitchen tables, or swapped in coffee shops and taverns. Her collection of legends, folklore and tall tales are woven into her fiction. As a writer her primary interest was delving into the psychology of her characters. Her stories are sometimes mysterious, sometimes funny, usually romantic and frequently frightening. Her characters range from lost children and grumpy old folks, to mysterious men and women who are not to be trifled with. She achieved her success as a writer in Gloucester, Massachusetts, America’s oldest seaport.””
Kathleen is survived by Wayne Valentine of St. Marys, Anne Valentine (Andrew) Neubert of St. Marys, Lisa Valentine Bretz of Coudersport, Christine Valentine (Will) Denayer of Coudersport, Matthew (Linda) Valentine of Pittsburgh, Beth Valentine (Casimir) Pellegrini of Pittsburgh and Donna Valentine; as well as 17 nieces and nephews; and seven great-nieces and nephews; and many other family members and friends.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, John Joseph and Mary Ann (Werner) Valentine, and brother, John Keith Valentine.