Sara Jane King

Sara Jane King died Saturday, July 25, 2015, at Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low, Arizona following a brief illness. She was 77 years old. Sara was born on a Monday, August 30, 1937, in Daisy Town, Washington County, Pennsylvania to her parents, the late Thurman Lloyd and Ruby Lillybell (Varner) Myers. Sara married the true love her life, Joseph Grant King, Jr. on December 1, 1972 in Clintwood, Virginia. He took on the role of "Dad" to her 6 children and has always loved them as his own. They, in turn, loved him as much as a child can ever love a father. A few years later, in 1976, the King family moved west to Arizona. They settled in Tempe, where Sara soon began working as, in her own words, a "professional waitress." She worked for 12 years at The Other Place, a restaurant, in Tempe and trained many of the younger waiters and waitresses to be the best they could be. She made many friends there and everyone always looked forward to seeing her friendly face. In 1988, Sara and Joseph moved to the White Mountains, making their home in Show Low, where they have since resided. Her family will alway remember Sara as a great mother, even calling her the "Best Mom". She was a fantastic wife to Joseph and the nearly 43 years they spent together were the happiest years of her life. She loved taking care of Joseph and found a great deal of happiness doting over his every need. Her life's focus has always been on her family and the relationships that they all share with each other now is a testament of the love and the devotion she had for each one of them. It has been said of Sara that she would light up any room simply by entering it and she was such a positive influence to those around her. She was never one to be idle and, when she wasn't working, she loved spending free time cleaning her house. It was always immaculately clean and many have commented that it could easily have been featured in the magazine, "Better Homes & Gardens!" She was also a skilled bargain hunter and loved to visit a good garage sale. Sara was known for her proverbial "green thumb" and spent countless hours growing vegetables in her garden. Inside her home, one would see house plants adorning just about every room and many of which she has been caring for for many years. Also, on a nice sunny day, Sara loved sun bathing in the backyard. This beautiful woman, who found the beauty in the world around her will be missed by so many. But none will miss her more than those she loved with all of her heart, mind and strength: her family. Sara is survived by her husband, Joseph Grant King, Jr., of Show Low, Arizona; 7 children: Debbie Bles of Phoenix, Arizona, Sandy Myers of Longmont, Colorado, Janet (Randy, Sr.) Pullen of Mesa, Arizona, Pete King of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Deanna (Manny) Vital of Tempe, Arizona, Tim (Melissa) King of Lakeside, Arizona, Michael (Melissa) King of Queen Creek, Arizona; 4 siblings: Therman Ray "Bub" Myers (Dorothy Whitaker) of Woodsfield, Ohio, William "Doodle" (Shirley) Myers of Canton, Ohio, Mary Thomas of Long Beach, California, Calvin "Calvinator" (Doris) Myers of Canton, Ohio; 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Along with her parents, Sara was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Grant King, III in 1981; 3 siblings: Juanita Moore, Ann Leister, and an infant brother, Lloyd Thurman Myers. Private family services will be held at a later date this summer or early fall. Sara's family is thankful for all of the expressions of sympathies they have received during this difficult time and are especially grateful for all of the prayers offered up on their behalf. Be blessed as you all go forth and love one another.