Mary Kay Pettis, 8, of Washington, died Tuesday, February 17, 1998, in Children's Hospital, Pittsburgh. Mary Kay died of heart failure 12 days after she collapsed while running toward her school bus. She was taken by ambulance to Washington Hospital and then transported by ambulance to Children's Hospital because a snowstorm had grounded emergency helicopters. She was a third grade student at Washington Park Elementary School. Mary Kay's father said doctors at Children's told him that Mary Kay had an irregular heartbeat. Mary Kay was a member of Friendship Baptist Church, where she sang in the Gospel Praise youth choir. She played on the East Washington girl's basketball team and was a member of the Girl Scouts. Surviving in addition to her parents, are three sisters, Roxanne and Krista Pettis, both of McKeesport, and Marcelle Patterson of Washington; a brother, Brandon Patterson at home; and her maternal grandmother, Mary Etta Patterson of Washington. Copyright ©1998 Observer Publishing Co.Last updated Thursday, February 19, 1998Mary Kay Pettis
Third-grader at Washington Park Elementary
She was born February 24, 1989, in Washington, a daughter of Beverly A. Patterson and Zack B. Pettis.