Mary Catherine King, 96 of Mill Shoals, Illinois, passed away at 10:22 PM on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Fairfield Memorial Hospital Skilled Care Unit.
Mary was born on November 28,1927, to Chancie and Gladys (Newby) Dosier in the McIntosh Bottoms of White County, Illinois. In her younger years, she attended the one-room schoolhouse next door to her family home. Mary graduated from Fairfield Community High School in 1944. On August 13,1945, she married Donald T. King. Mary and Don began married life in Peoria, IL. They were both employed with the Caterpillar company but soon became homesick. They decided Mill Shoals was to be their forever home, so they moved back and spent 71 years together, until his passing on November 14, 2016.
Mary was employed as a bookkeeper for Bill Musgrave Trucking Company and J.E. Fleming Accountants which later became McDowell, Kenshalo, and Jesop. She retired in 1989 and loved her new job of being “Grandma Mary.”
Mary was a life-long member of the Mill Shoals Baptist Church, where she filled many roles over the years. She was a Sunday School teacher, church treasurer, and pianist for over 50 years.
She enjoyed being outside working In the yard, feeding the hummingbirds, and tending to her flowers. She loved spending time with her family and for almost 60 years she attended various sporting events to watch her girls and grandchildren participate. She was a faithful fan of S.I.U. Carbondale, the Fairfield Mules, the Carbondale Terriers, and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Surviving are 2 daughters; Vicky King of Marion, IL, and Karen (Steve) Baker of Fairfield; 1 granddaughter, Jenna (Brad) Dunnigan of Waterloo, IL; 5 great-grandchildren, Xavier and Terrance Baker, and Isla, Solvi, and Silas Dunnigan; and 1 great grandchild due to arrive in September; 2 nieces, Glenda (Gene) Martin and Lynn Cunningham of Georgetown, TX.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; brother, Paul Tucker; infant daughter, Donna Catherine King; and grandson, Cory Allen Baker.
Funeral services for Mary King will be held at 1 PM, Tuesday, March 19th at the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield, IL, with burial to follow in Shrewsbury Cemetery in Mill Shoals, IL. Visitation will be held from 11 AM until the time of service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Mill Shoals Baptist Church or SSM Hospice of Southern Illinois.