Mary King

Harcourt- Mary Ruth King, 94, of West Des Moines and formerly of Harcourt, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Laufersweller Palmer & Sons Funeral Home in Gowrie. Pastor Glen Hanson officiating. Burial will follow in Lost Grove Township Cemetery in Harcourt. There will be a visitation one hour prior to services on Tuesday.

Mary King was born in Fort Scott, Kansas, to Bertha and Andrew Chambers. Mary's life was marked by a deep love for her family. Mary moved to Ames, Iowa, in the late 1940s with her sister Rose and brother-in-law Bill, where she met and married, Harvey Theodore King, on August 24, 1949. Together, Mary and Ted raised six children: Sharon (Jim), Gary, Beth, Audrey(Rodney), Bruce, and Janet(Glen). Their love extended through their 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, all of whom made Mary light up and smile when she saw them. Mary and Ted also lived in Ayrshire, Burnside and Harcourt.

Mary was a woman of great strength and resilience. She lived through the Great Depression and World War II, enduring hardships with grace and kindness. She worked throughout her life as a waitress, clerk at J.C. Penney, and at Globe Union. No matter how hard life got, her love and devotion to her family never wavered. Mary was a dedicated and proud mother, always encouraging her children to succeed in life. She valued education deeply, desiring the best for each of her kids and supporting them in every endeavor. She took immense pride in their accomplishments and the paths they chose for themselves.

After retiring, she enjoyed garage sales, gardening and crafting. She also traveled around the U.S. with Ted's relatives and attended his Marine Corps reunions. Independent and strong, Mary was always there to help care for her children and grandchildren and offered support to her children in any way she could. She also loved her pet dogs- Mitzi, Sadie, Chloe and Duffy.

A long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Dayton, Mary had a caring heart and compassion for others. She cared deeply for the less fortunate, having experienced the hardships of life firsthand.

Mary's legacy is one of love and resilience. She will be remembered for her kind heart and her unwavering love for her big family. Her memory will live on in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who were blessed to know her.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Ted, siblings, Rose, Marcella, Helen, Dorothy, Jack, and Pat. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.