Vonda Vivian King

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Vonda Vivian King, age 97, of Overland Park, Kan., was born March 30, 1908, in Olean, Mo., and passed from this life on Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at home from aortic stenosis. Vonda was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Price and Cora Hortense (Procter) Price.

When Vonda was two years old, she, along with her parents and sister, moved to New Mexico to a homestead. She spent most of her young life there moving back to Missouri at the age of 22. She met her husband, William Preston King, in El Dorado Springs. On June 19, 1933, they were united in marriage and to their union six children were born. The King's moved to Schell City to farm and raise their family.

Vonda was a loving mother and would do without to provide for her children. She loved to read and also enjoyed puzzles, quilting, and making hooked rugs. She worked hard in her garden and home, canning, washing clothes on a washboard, cooking three meals a day, and many other chores on the farm. She considered this a good life.

Survivors include her son Richard Eugene King and his wife Carol Ann of Bowling Green, Ky.; and their family; their son James Douglas King and his wife Lisa also of Bowling Green; and their daughter Kathy Sawyer and her husband Tim of Maple Heights, Wis.; her son Stanley Howard King of Independence, Mo.; Stanley's son, William Preston King III (Billy) of Austin, Texas; Stanley's daughters, Karen Nolan and her husband Franz of Alton, Ill.; Kimberly King of Frasier, Colo.; Kerrie King also of Frazier; and Kellie Williams and her husband Jim of Olathe, Kan.; her daughter, Margaret Mae Murphy and her husband Arthur James (A.J.) of Dearborn, Mo.; and their children, Arthur James Murphy Jr. and his wife Cynthia of Springfield, Mo.; Stephanie Parlee Hensley and her husband Jimmy of Camden Point, Mo.; and Shawn Gregory Murphy of Springfield; her daughter, Betty Laverene King of Overland Park, Kan.; her nephew, Aubrey Eldean Geyer of Dewey, Okla., and his daughter Dana Jones and her husband Page of Fair Grove, Mo.; her son-in-law, Larry Harris of Kansas City, Mo.; 19 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; one great-great-nephew, and many friends.

Preceding her in death were her husband, William Preston King; her youngest son Donald Ray King; her youngest daughter Ruth Elaine Harris; her sister Mae Geyert; her great-grandson William Preston King Jr., her stillborn great-granddaughter Makenzie Hensley; her daughter-in-law Carol Sue King; and her nephew's wife Pauline Geyer.

Funeral services for Vonda Vivian King were held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 19, at the Schell City Christian Church with pastor Joshua Adsit officiating. Musical selections were provided by Julie Wilson and Sharon Goodaman. Pallbearers were Jim King, Preston King, Joshua Sawyer, Tim Sawyer, James Murphy Jr., Shawn Murphy, Bill King, and Jimmy Hensley.

Interment was in the El Dorado Springs City Cemetery in El Dorado Springs, Mo. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Schell City Christian church in care of the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City who handled the arrangements.