Margaret Jean King

Margaret was born on October 16, 1941 in Fort Scott Kansas and was the eldest daughter of John and Grace Campbell. She adored her two younger sisters Marilyn and Kathy, with whom she remained close throughout her life. Margaret attended Main Street Elementary School in Fort Scott and her first-grade teacher was Elta Rose, who happened to be the aunt of David King.

Margaret found her love of the piano at an early age and taught herself to play on her family's neighbor's piano. By the age of 14, Margaret became the pianist for the First Church of the Nazarene in Fort Scott and enjoyed sharing her love of music with others. Margaret also enjoyed singing in her school chorus class, where she met her future husband David. As their friendship grew, Margaret invited David to attend church with her one Sunday night and it was that night when David first heard the beautiful music that this fourteen-year-old beauty played on the piano. David knew that night that he wanted a future with Margaret Jean Campbell. In the summer of 1958, Margaret graduated from high school with nearly perfect grades and although she worked the entire time she was in high school, her studies were never affected by job. David, however, may have had some effect.

On June 6, 1959, Margaret wed David King in a beautiful ceremony and settled into married life. David was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed at Dugway Proving Ground outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. The newlyweds moved into a little apartment in Tooele, Utah and commuted to work together on the army base. While living in Utah, Margaret ad David visited many of the National Parks and enjoyed seeing this new part of the country.

When David was released from the Army in 1961, they relocated back to Kansas City, where Margaret took a job with Western Auto and David began working for Hallmark Cards. While working at Wester Auto, Margaret entered a company talent competition, playing "Autumn Leaves" on the piano. She took first place in the contest and took home a brand-new set of tires!
Margaret's life became much busier with the arrival of her son Jeffrey David King in November of 1963, soon to be followed by Stephen Thomas King in July of 1965. When both Jeff and Steve were in elementary school, Margaret became involved with their school and was soon elected PTA President of Shawanoe Elementary School. Margaret's demonstrated leadership and diplomacy skills were a blessing to the school and made an impression on her son Jeff, who campaigned successfully for president of the 6th grade.

Margaret decided to return to school later in her life and earned her Paralegal degree from Johnson County Community College. Soon after, she accepted a Paralegal position with the Johnson County Trustees Office, where she worked for many years. Margaret and David decided in 1979 to build their dream home on a 2-acre lot with a creek and pond in Shawnee. Their unique contemporary home was beautiful, warm and welcoming and it remains a photographic landmark home in the area.
Margaret and David became grandparents to Joshua Jeffrey in 1994 and Margaret Rose in 2007. She was a devoted grandmother who attended countless basketball, football and soccer games to cheer on her grandson and she babysat her granddaughter frequently beginning when she was a newborn.

When David and Margaret retired from their respective careers, they enjoyed traveling around the world, visiting countries like Italy, France, Belgium, and Mexico, as well as almost every state in the Union, collecting beautiful handbells from every stop. They enjoyed cruises and road trips but most of all, they enjoyed their precious time together. In their later years, Margaret and David relished their winters spent in Fort Myers Florida, where they walked, biked, canoed, and strolled along the beaches.

Margaret remained a devoted Christian in her life and was the Pianist for the Quivira Road Baptist Church, where she and David attended. She was a kind and generous soul who lived the life of a loving Christian. She donated to various charities around the country, she played piano at local nursing homes, and she even donated her old newspapers to a local pet store every week, where she would take her granddaughter Maggie to see the animals. Margaret's generosity of heart and spirit has been a blessing to everyone in her life and she will continue to have a profound and positive impact on her friends and family. She will be dearly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know and love her.

Donations may be given in memory of Margaret King to the Salvation Army Outpost located at College Church of the Nazarene, 2020 E Sheridan St, Olathe, KS 66062.





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