Viola Ann Shackelford King was born October 16, 1925 on High Point Hill, East of Mt. Moriah, MO. She passed away Monday, January 25, 2016 at Harrison County Community Hospital surrounded by family.
Viola was the third of seven children born to Ellis and Fern Shackelford. She grew up mainly in the Mt. Moriah area with a few of her early grade school years in Arkansas. At the tender age of 9, she began working, staying with the elder ladies for room and board. Later she received a quarter a week for her work. While in high school she worked at the Farmer Store in Mt. Moriah. She graduated valedictorian of her class. After graduation she moved to Bethany and worked as a bookkeeper for J.C. Penney’s.
Viola married Lloyd Darold King on May 22, 1946 after he returned from serving in the army during World War II. Upon marrying Lloyd, Viola became a housewife and they made their home in the Mt. Moriah and Bethany area.
Lloyd and Viola enjoyed traveling and spent a lot of time in the Southern states and up and down the West Coast. Viola enjoyed gardening and flowers. She had a great green thumb. She enjoyed sitting on the patio listening to the birds and always had hummingbirds feeding from the many feeders she had hanging. She enjoyed shopping and eating out. She was always ready when anyone asked if she would like to go with them.
Viola truly enjoyed her family and will be greatly missed by them. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years; her parents; 3 brothers, Lester, Lawrence and Aaron Shackelford; and a sister, Nadine Kinnison.
Survivors include her children, Laura Lorene (Ron) Beaman, St. Joseph, MO, Samuel Clayton (Victoria) King, Bethany, MO; sisters, Ruth Combs and Maurine (Ted) Preston, all of Bethany, MO; grandchildren, Kelly (Ken) Metz, Kimberly Beaman, Kevin (Andrea) Beaman, Kayla Beaman, Vicky King, Darrin King, Amanda Vanderflught (Jason), Joni Vanderflught, and Samuel King; great grandchildren, Tyler Beaman, Zoie Beaman, Alexandria Stewart, Hannah Stewart, Sydney Stewart, Cruz Stewart, Ashlee Steeby, Rachael Steeby, and Joshua Steeby; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other family and friends.
Graveside services and burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 30 at Oakland Cemetery, Bethany, MO. There is no scheduled family visitation. Friends may call after noon on Friday at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Oakland Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.