Martha Kay Renfroe, who wrote under the pen name M.K. Wren, died on August 20. She was 78.
A former longtime resident of Lincoln City, Ore., Renfroe's best-known work was a mystery series featuring Conan Flagg, a bookstore owner/former intelligence agent who lived in a town resembling Lincoln City. For the series, Renfroe often consulted with booksellers at Bob's Beach Books in Lincoln City, including founder Robert Portwood and his wife, Meg. She also wrote a post-apocalyptic novel, A Gift Upon the Shore; a sci-fi trilogy trilogy, the Phoenix Legacy; the Neely Jones series; and a writer's guide, Nitty Gritties: The Pursuit of the Perfect Manuscript. She was also an artist whose work was shown in galleries and juried and invitational shows.
Diana Portwood, manager of Bob's Beach Books, called Renfroe "a marvelous author, an interesting artist, an animal lover, and a lovely woman; she will be missed." The bookstore is planning an informal gathering in her memory in October; anyone interested in attending is welcome to contact the store for more information.