Susan Jones King

Susan Carole King, age 79, of Temple passed away on Friday, March 15, 2024 at a local hospital. She was born on August 15, 1944, in Marlin, Texas, the daughter of William Henry and Lottie Mae (Kennedy) Jones. On September 11, 1981 in Amarillo, Texas she married Glenn Richard (Dick) King.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Wildflower Country Club in Temple, Texas, on April 27, 2024 from 2-5pm. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Cultural Activities Center of Temple, Texas, or your favorite charity in her name.

Susan graduated from Marlin High School as class of 1962, where she was a cheerleader and played flute in the band. She lived in Marlin, Fort Worth, Denver Colorado, New York City, Austin, Amarillo, Humble, and most recently Temple where she lived 37 years. She graduated from TCU in 1965 with a degree in Education where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. She looked forward to attending the Zeta reunions every 2 years where she socialized with her college friends. After college she became a 2nd grade elementary school teacher in Denver, Colorado, an art teacher in Austin, TX, and a junior high tennis coach in Amarillo, TX. She was the tennis pro shop manager for 18 years at Wildflower Country Club leading up to her retirement in 2004.

She loved nature and animals, and her most recent love was her sweet dog Emma. She enjoyed traveling as a life’s passion including cruising and traveling to multiple continents and countries including Spain, Morocco, Europe, and Russia.

Susan loved sports, cheering for her TCU Froggies, and playing competitive golf and tennis. In Texas, she was state ranked in tennis many years, and was ranked #1 in Texas Women’s ‘45 and Over’ Doubles in 1989. She made lifelong friends along the way.

She was musically talented in flute, guitar and piano, and often entertained friends at various events with fun songs. She was an avid reader and liked playing bridge, Sequence, other card games, dominoes.

She was a member of The Contemporaries, whose mission is to support the arts and education of the children of Bell County, where she loved teaching 3rd grade children in the Hands-On program.

Susan is survived by her husband Dick King of Temple, daughter Dina Contella and husband Steve of League City, Texas, step-sons, Steve King and wife Charlotte of Temple, TX and John King and wife Cris of Austin, TX, step-daughter Cindy Maulding and husband Monty of Kyle, TX; 8 grandchildren, Taylor, Payton, and Max Contella, Christy King, Zachary and wife Ashley and Zoe Waldman, and Alec and Kylar Maulding; great-grandchildren Hope, Faith, and Madalyn. She is also survived by her brother James Walton Jones and wife Billie of Fort Worth, TX, niece Judy Keith and husband Robert of North Richland Hills, TX, and her cousin Betty Oltorf and husband Charles of Austin.

The family would like to thank Baylor Scott and White doctors, nurses, and staff for Susan’s care this past year.