Kathryn (Kathy) Ann Lutes, passed away at her home in Pacifica on March 4, 2024.
She was born on July 25, 1945 in Tillamook, OR, to Dorothy (nee McInerney) and Harvey Grant McElhiney. Because Kathy’s dad served in the US Navy for over 20 years, Kathy’s upbringing included living in many places and making new friends.
Seven more siblings would come into the family along the way. In 1958, the family settled in San Marcos, CA, where Kathy attended Escondido High School and then graduated from San Marcos High School in 1963. She attended Palomar College and worked for the Daily Times Advocate newspaper in Escondido. Kathy moved to San Francisco in 1967 and worked for different underground newspapers. In 1972, she returned to the San Diego area and married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Steven V. Lutes.
Kathy and Steve moved to Lawrence, Kansas where Steve pursued a PhD in anthropology, while Kathy took classes and worked for the University of Kansas. While living in Kansas, Kathy developed a keen interest in quilting, and other textile arts, such as batik and tie dye. Kathy and Steve lived outside the US during Steve’s anthropology research assignments, including Potam, Mexico, Davao City, Philippines and Guam. At each new location, Kathy would form groups of women who were interested in exchanging ideas about sewing techniques, fabric and textile arts. In addition to textile art, Kathy was a self-taught artist. At the age of 12, Kathy began keeping notebooks of drawings she made of costumes worn by people through the ages. While living abroad, Kathy would illustrate her letters home with exquisite drawings of clothing she observed in her new home. Kathy’s art was far-reaching and included watercolor, pen and ink designs and poster art.
Kathy and Steve returned to the Bay Area in 1983, living in the Glen Park area of the City until 1989 when they moved into their home in Pacifica. Kathy would work for Jupiter Press in San Francisco for many years, supervising production of unique and artistic print products.
Kathy’s love of nature could be seen in her many visits with Steve to Yosemite and Big Sur, the Pacifica beaches and terrain, and in the beautiful coastal gardens she created with many native plants which were beneficial to wildlife. As a child, Kathy learned to play the ukelele and the Hawaiian Steel Guitar while the family lived on Oahu. She would later learn to play the Celtic harp and guitar. Kathy loved music and delighted in attending concerts of many genres, from classical to folk music to rock and roll. She was known to particularly enjoy Grateful Dead music and online social groups, where she met many fellow music lovers whose friendships she cherished, especially her longtime friends Julie and Rus.
Kathy was predeceased by her husband Steven V. Lutes, her mother and father, as well as sister Julie Mae McElhiney. She is survived by her beloved daughter Whitney Fuller, stepdaughter Marie McCreary, granddaughter Jessica Lord and brother-in-law James Lutes. She was Honorary Grandmother to Ryan Wozniak. Kathy is also survived by her siblings: Mari Martinez (Mike Vontoure), Michael McElhiney, Jenny Sue Taylor (Paul), Brian McElhiney (Lucinda), David McElhiney, and Margaret McElhiney.
Kathy introduced fairies, make-believe, dolls, dragonflies, music and a sense of the magical and mystical to her nieces and nephews, including Mary Martinez, Maya Solis, Julie Martinez-Wytch (Louis), Crystal Schimpf, Patrick McElhiney, Sal Martinez (Stephanie), Chris Martinez (Linda), Shannon McElhiney and Brianna McElhiney. She was a devoted Great Auntie to Mathew Jones, Andrew Boylan, Ivy Carter, Cheri Carter, Calvin Carter, Cheyenne Carter, Kori Wytch, Diego Martinez, Olivia Martinez, Eli Martinez, and Skylar Martinez.
Special thanks to our brother David McElhiney, for the special care he gave to Kathy over the years, including her final days of hospice at home.
A Celebration of Life for Kathy will be held at a future time.
