Norma King was born August 12, 1924, in a farmhouse near Gatesville, TX to Albert and Lizzie Apel. Her family was part of a German community in Coryell County and she spoke German and English as a child. Norma began her education at Plainview School in Coryell County. During these years, attending this small country school, she got to know a boy that lived on a neighboring farm named Elmo King. She and Elmo would attend high school together in Gatesville where she played basketball and participated in numerous other activities.
Following graduation from Gatesville High School in 1942, Norma worked in Gatesville for several years to earn enough money to attend Baylor University in Waco, Texas. On September 28, 1946 she married Elmo King. As Elmo began his career as a veterinarian, the couple would live for a brief time in Longview, McGregor, and Austin, TX, prior to settling in McKinney, TX in 1953. They remained together in McKinney until Elmo passed away in 1999. Norma continued to live in McKinney until 2015 when she moved to a care facility in Arlington, TX.
Norma was actively involved in the lives of her three children as she served as full time homemaker, taxi driver, Den Mother, driving instructor, and scheduling manager. Her children would frequently find her ironing in the kitchen at “curfew time” during their teen years. She and Elmo enjoyed traveling together throughout the USA and working together at their “get away” farm. Her grandchildren could always count on fresh chocolate chip cookies and other goodies during their visits. She took pride in her yard and worked there on a daily basis past her 90th birthday.
She was active in First Baptist Church, McKinney, and for many years served in various leadership roles that included teaching Sunday school, Women’s Missionary Union activities, and participation in numerous church committees. She put her business skills to work assisting her husband in the veterinary clinic and managing several rental properties that were owned by the family. During many of her years in McKinney, she participated in service projects with her friends in the En Ami Literary Club, and shared lots of good times with them.
She is survived by her children, Gary King & wife Pat, Don King & wife Pam, and Jennifer Gustavson & husband Allen; grandchildren, Catherine King, Cameron King, Cassandra McIver & husband Sean, Jessica Kane & husband Kyle, Daniel King & wife Sarah, and Ashley Pollay & husband Brandon; great-grandchildren, Mason McIver, Maggie McIver, and Grace King; and brothers, Eddie Apel and Curt Apel.
She was preceded in death by both parents, her husband, brothers Albert, John, and Edwin; and sisters, Louise and Elfrieda.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, June 29, 2017, at First Baptist Church, 1615 W. Louisiana, McKinney, Texas, 75069. Interment will follow at 4:00 p.m., at Hemmeline Cemetery in Gatesville, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday evening at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.
Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of McKinney, Transform Your World Offering.