Billie Coley King

December 12, 1927 - April 12, 2017

Mrs. Don King passed away in the early hours of April 12, 2017, in Amarillo, Texas, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Born on December 12, 1927, Billie Marie Coley King was the daughter of Irvin Greenie (I.G.) and Minnie Denning Coley of Jacksboro, Texas. She was the delight of her older brother Irvin Stewart (Pete) Coley. The family enjoyed the pleasures of living in a small town. They belonged to First Methodist Church Jacksboro and Billie sang in the choir as a young girl. I.G. Coley was the building superintendent when the current church building was built and he and Minnie attended church there all their lives. Billie made lifelong friendships growing up in Jacksboro. In fact, she seldom ever met a stranger. At Jacksboro High School Billie met Don Carter King, a transfer student from Jermyn. They married March 15, 1947, and first lived in Lubbock, Texas, where Don graduated from Texas Tech. The couple then returned to make their home on the family ranch in Jermyn. Billie loved country life and, though having been born a “city girl” became a wonderful “ranch wife”. Two children, Sherry and Carter, were born while Billie and Don lived on the ranch. In 1965, Don was promoted and (along with the family) moved to Fort Worth where the office of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association was located. Billie adapted to city life and became involved in different activities. She and Don became members first of the Meadowbrook Methodist Church and later at First Methodist in downtown Fort Worth. They attended Sunday School there and Billie volunteered weekly at the First Street Methodist Mission which provides food and clothing to the needy. She served as president of the Texas Porcelain Art Club and became a certified teacher for the International Porcelain Artists. She traveled the state and taught many china painting classes and seminars for many years. She continued to sew incredibly beautiful clothing, painted Old West scenes in oils, and traveled the world with Don and the Cattle Raisers. Often, Don attended meetings around the country. Billie followed along, going to the local library. She had fallen in love with family history, constantly chasing the Coley, Sampley, Denning, Hill, and other related families. Her love of genealogy led to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Billie enjoyed gardening and loved digging in the dirt. Working in the yard and watching the birds brought her lots of joy. Particularly, after Don passed away, her yard and koi pond helped to fill some of the void left by Don’s death. In 2009, Billie moved to Canyon to be near her son Carter and wife Rochelle. She joined the First Methodist Church in Canyon and was active there until she went into assisted living care. Her parents, brother, and husband preceded her in death. Billie Coley King is survived by daughter Sherry Cherryhomes of Jacksboro, and Dr. Don Carter King, Jr. and wife Rochelle of Canyon; 5 grandchildren and their spouses: Clinton Carter King and wife Julie of Lafayette, Colorado, Mandy Elizabeth, King Madden and husband Preston of Lubbock, Brett Trevor Loeffler and wife Kathy of Mason; Lacy King Loeffler Kozak and husband Terry of Alvin, and Brandon Todd Loeffler of Dallas; and 7 great-grandchildren. Known as “Gram”, she was adored and is loved by all those family members around her. The family would like to extended their thanks to Childers Place and BSA Hospice of the Southwest in Amarillo, Texas for the loving care and support that staff members have provided for Billie. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Foundation 1600 Gendy Street Fort Worth, TX 76107 or First United Methodist Church 406 North Main Street Jacksboro, Texas 76458