Athella Clemmie King of Ocean Shores, Wash., passed away Feb. 27, 2017. She was born July 31, 1916, in Springfield, Idaho, in a lava rock house her father built on a homestead. Her parents were James Hirst Thompson and Pearl R. (Bowthorpe) Thompson. She was the middle daughter and had six sisters. She was raised in La Grande, Ore. and attended La Grande High School.
On April 10, 1933, at the age of 16, Athella married Luther Franklin Feik. They had one son, Derald Franklin Feik born March 20, 1936. They were later divorced.
On May 4, 1944, she married LeRoy Frederick King in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1950 LeRoy and Athella adopted their son, Michael Leroy King and in May 1954 they adopted their daughter, Michelle Randleman.
Athella was a switchboard operator and secretary in Mineral Wells, Texas during World War II. For the majority of her life she was a homemaker residing in Seattle, Wash.
Athella was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She taught Beehive classes, belonged to the Relief Society, sang in the choir and held various positions in the church, but found being a genealogy teacher the most rewarding. Athella had a passion for gardening, enjoying many flowers, especially roses and her favorite, iris. She had a second lot behind her house in West Seattle that she kept as her vegetable garden growing beans, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, onions, strawberries and raspberries. She spent hours gardening. Her favorite pastime was crafting and playing the organ. She made many beautiful things throughout her life and in 1979 was featured in the Seattle Times with pictures of her many accomplishments – glasswork, beading, embroidery, needlepoint, metal art and Christmas ornaments.
Athella is survived by her daughter, Michelle Randleman of Ocean Shores, granddaughters, Sonya Kistler of Auburn, Wash. and Dawn Newman of Tacoma, Wash., great-grandchildren, Spencer and Sierra Newman of Tacoma, Wash. and sister, Della Hughes of West Valley City, Utah.
Athella was preceded in death by her mother, Pearl R. Thompson, father, James H. Thompson, her husband, LeRoy F. King, son, Michael L. King and sisters, Nelma Thompson, Wilma Anderson, Mildred Strong, Afton Case and Luana Peck.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
