Billie Jean King

Published in the Sundance Times Oct 2011

Billie Jean King, 83 of Sundance, Wyoming, died Saturday, October 1, 2011, at Crook County Memorial Nursing Home in Sundance.

Billie was born July 31, 1928, to W F “Pete” and Mary (Fritz) Hamil in Coppers Cove, Texas. Her parents later moved her and younger brother Henry Hamil to Ingleside, on the southeastern coast of Texas near Corpus Christi. She attended and graduated from Ingleside High School. She married classmate Joe D King on October 9, 1946. She worked for the Ingleside Post Office as a Postal Clerk until the birth sons Russell Wayne King and William Scott King where she chose to become a full time Mom. She relocated to Sundance, Wyoming, in 2006 with son, Scott and daughter, Catherine Ann “Katie” King.

She’ll be best remembered for; playing tennis poorly but claiming originality for having the name first; her favorite place in the home was the kitchen where she’d be busy cooking and baking all manner of goodies, dishes, and treats for family and friends; telling everyone she met “I’m Grandma”; and her favorite pastime was “Talking”, usually about her favorite topic, her children, Grand and Great-Grandchildren.

She is survived by sons, Russ and Scott; daughters, Patricia Ann King and Katie King; three grandchildren, Kathryn Marie Alvarado, Bobby Don King and Levi Scott King; five great-grandchildren, Nathan Daniel Dominguez, Anahi Christina King, Cayla Marie Dominguez, Giancarlo David Alvarado and Gabriela Jean King. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, husband, and grandson, William Joseph King.

At Billie’s request cremation has taken place and private family services will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society and/or the Multiple Sclerosis Society have been established.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance, WY. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com