Mary Ella King, 72, died at her home in Great Bend on June 11. Born June 27, 1938 in Lawrence, she was the daughter of Carol Elby and Ella Rose (Hartman) Miller. She was a 1959 graduate of the University of Kansas. On June 28, 1959 she married William T. King in Lawrence. She was a home economics and mathematics teacher at Argentine High School in the Kansas City school system. A Great Bend resident since July 1965, coming from Prairie Village, she was a deposition proofer for Turner and Boisseau and an insurance clerk for her husband’s medical practice.

Mrs. King was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she served as CE director, elder and deacon. She was a long-time member of P.E.O. Chapter FS, Pilot club, FCE and League of Women Voters, holding various offices. She was a Girl Scout Troop leader and a Junior golf coordinator and was active in school-related activities. She worked to implement a stoplight a Broadway and McKinley so the students at Eisenhower Elementary School could safely cross Broadway and also worked to get the school lunch program started in Great Bend Schools. Later, she served 14 years on the Unified School District 428 Board of Education. She was a recipient of the Barton Community College Foundation Distinguished Service Award in 2011.

Survivors include her husband, William T. King, M.D., of the home; a son, William Russell King, M.D. and wife Susan Clevenger, of Overland Park; three daughters, Carolee Hoffman and husband Scott of Basehor, Pamela Tracy and husband Kenny of Great Bend, and Roberta Sue King, PhD and husband Louis Soloff of Narragansett, R.I.; six grandchildren, Justin Tracy, Katlyn Tracy, Ryan King, Evan King, Robin King, and Curtis Soloff; and two great-grandchildren, Jack Tracy and Logan Tracy.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Scott V. Solether officiating. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence. Friends may visit from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Barton Community College Foundation: Mary King Scholarship for the Arts, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home*

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, June 15, 2011