Edhat Staff
(Photos: Facebook)
World-renowned author and local resident, Sue Grafton, passed away at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on Thursday after a two-year battle with cancer. She was 77 years of age. 
Grafton’s daughter, Jamie Clark, confirmed the death on Facebook stating, “she was surrounded by family, including her devoted and adoring husband Steve. Although we knew this was coming, it was unexpected and fast. She had been fine up until just a few days ago, and then things moved quickly.”
Grafton is known for her “alphabet series” of mystery novels that began in 1982 with “A is for Alibi.” She continued to write a novel for every letter through this past August’s publication of “Y is for Yesterday.”
“Sue always said that she would continue writing as long as she had the juice. Many of you also know that she was adamant that her books would never be turned into movies or TV shows, and in that same vein, she would never allow a ghostwriter to write in her name,” wrote Clark. “Because of all of those things, and out of the deep abiding love and respect for our dear sweet Sue, as far as we in the family are concerned, the alphabet now ends at Y.”
Grafton was born on April 24, 1940, in Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated from the University of Louisville. She was married to Steve Humphrey for more than 35 years and had three children, four granddaughters, and one great-grandson.
