Avis de décès de Mary-Louise King

Mary Louise King, daughter of Melville Wilson, a Methodist preacher, spent most of her growing-up years in Florence. Her dad was the first pastor of Northwood Methodist Church in Florence, and her parents were the first couple to be married in that church. (Incidentally, Ruby Reeder Steverson, a former member of Sheffield FUMC, now deceased, was Mary Louise's first cousin, and our own Gene Hamby was her paperboy for a time.) Reverend Wilson was 35 when he died, having no insurance and owning no furniture in their parsonage home.Although her father baptized her, Mary didn't remember much about him because of his untimely death. There is no doubt that his faith influenced her. During her days as a young person, she took an active part in the Epworth League, later to be known as the Methodist Youth Fellowship, at Florence FUMC.Her mother was a marvelous person, strong and determined, and she had a tremendous influence on Mary's life. In spite of being widowed early in her marriage (her husband was 35 years old), Mrs. Wilson saw to it that her two children were college graduates. Mary's brother attended Birmingham Southern and eventually earned a law degree at another school, and Mary Louise attended Birmingham Southern, Huntingdon College and Peabody College, earning degrees in math and science with minors in English and education. She had attended Coffee High School, and as an adult she taught there. Although she loved biology, teaching was not her favorite vocation.When asked about her memories of World War II, she recalled vividly the rationing of sugar, tires, coffee, meat, shoes, gasoline and other items, and remembered that she had shared most of her coupons in the ration books for shoes with her mother, since her mother was harder on shoes than she was. Her brother served in the military during the war as a captain of an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry), while she helped register people for the draft.After Mary Louise gave up teaching as a career, she became the senior clerk in the payroll department of Muscle Shoals Phosphate Development Works during its construction, about 3 years. Her favorite job was probably with the TV Cable Company, now Comcast Cable Company. She always loved the company of people.Mary Louise was married to Earl DeArman for 35 years when he died suddenly with a heart attack in 1973. A couple of years later, she married Howard King, who had also been widowed. The two men had worked together at Tennessee Valley Sand and Gravel and Arrow Transportation Company, and the couples had been good friends. The two had been married for about 23 years when Howard died. She told me Howard was a real romantic, giving her gifts and writing poems. She had two very happy marriages.Although she had multiple health problems, she was a vibrant, talented senior with a quick mind. She was well-read, articulate and possessed the gift of writing and expressing her strong Christian faith in words. She was a valuable member of the Greatest Generation.Mrs. King's funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at Morrison Funeral Home Chapel in Tuscumbia. Her family will accept visitors beginning at noon at the funeral home until service time. Bill Bedsole and Charles "Chuck" Beard will officiate the service. Burial will follow at Florence City Cemetery.She is survived by her stepsons, Loyd and Kenneth King; her daughter-in-law, Elaine Goode; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.Morrison Funeral Home, of Tuscumbia, is directing.