Mary King

Our beloved Mary Frances Owens King left us for her heavenly home on Saturday, October 3, 2009. She had joyfully celebrated her 90th birthday on July 15 of this year. Born to Lucius Clayton and Jessie Mae Owens in Titus County, Texas in 1919, Mary Frances spent her childhood years in East Texas. In 1937, she married her soul mate, Hix Habern King. She was preceded in death by her husband and two sons, Michael Hix King and Timothy Mark King, as well as five siblings. Mary Frances is survived by her loving family including daughter, Sally King Fifer and husband, Fred Fifer; son, David Neill King, all of Dallas; son Danny Paul King and wife, Wendy; and daughter, Lucinda King, all of Tyler. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Fred Fifer III and wife Jeanie; King Fifer and wife Amy; Christman Fifer and wife Sarah; Matthew King and wife Danielle, all of Dallas; and Johanna King Grissaffi and husband Jim, Aisha Esbay Shoemaker and husband Chris, and Michael Esbay and Nathan LeBrun, all of Tyler. She is also survived by the special joys of her life, ten great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Everyone who knew her knew that Mary Frances was a loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend who loved all of life. Traveling to any destination was an adventure to her. She was intrigued with art, music, history and current events. But her special interest was poetry. She was an award-winning poet and a member of the Rose Garden Poetry Society. Mary Frances was a life-long learner. At the age or 43, she returned to college and graduated with honors from Tyler Junior College. She then commuted for two years to Texas A&M at Commerce where she attained her Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts. This accomplishment launched her enthusiasm for painting, and writing poetry and stories. Her love for the beauty of the earth and for people of every description provided abundant inspiration for her poetry. She had the masterful ability to find beauty and wonderment in the simplest of things. Her published poems contain some of the best sermons one might ever read or hear. Her poems reflect care and appreciation of others and descriptions of beautiful things and places, yet they are not “preachy”, but offer wisdom, hope and love. In short, Mary Frances loved life and her love was contagious. Her family and friends will honor her life at a Memorial Service at her beloved Cedar Street United Methodist Church where she is one of its oldest members. She served her Lord and Savior there faithfully, serving on the Board of Trustees and various other committees and mission work. Her involvement with the Daughter’s of Wesley Quilting Group was also a source of strength and friendship. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 6 from 6-8:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. Family graveside services will be conducted before the Memorial Service. Memorial service will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at the Cedar Street United Methodist Church, 1420 North Church Avenue, Tyler, Texas 75702. Memorials may be made to the church or to the Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701.

Mary King

July 15, 1919 - October 3, 2009