Woman, 77, dies trying to save her cats

Her body found in hallway after house fire, holding one of her seven pets

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updated 8:42 p.m. ET Feb. 3, 2007

TEXAS CITY, Texas - A 77-year-old woman trying to rescue her seven cats from a house fire was found dead in a hallway, still clutching one of the animals, officials said.

Texas City Fire Marshal Kelly Rothrock said the Thursday fire was probably started when one of the cats knocked over a decorative candle onto a stack of papers and magazines.

Firefighters found the body of Mary Lou Henry in a hallway. The cat she was holding and another one died. Two were being treated at a veterinary clinic, two were missing and another was taken in by Henry's daughter.