Obituary of Betty Lou King

On June 15, Betty Lou King entered her final rest ending her difficult battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband Cecil who passed away in 2000. She is survived by her two loving sisters, Ella Hearne Lovell and Jenkie Allen. DeAnna, her youngest and most devoted daughter along her sister Ella, maintained residence with Betty for the last few years to assist her in living. Betty is also survived by three other children, John Cecil Hall, William Allen King, and Dixie Lee King, two grandchildren, Amanda Carr and Danielle Scoggins, two great grand children, Destiny and Gavin and numerous nieces and nephews. Betty was born in Tampa, December 22, 1928 and for the most part Betty, Ella, and Jenkie were reared in the Masonic Home of Florida in St. Petersburg, being the eldest, Betty naturally took on the mothering role for her sisters. She met and married Cecil, a railway welder, and toured the North American continent. Travels took her as far away as Winnipeg, Canada but ultimately she and Cecil returned to Tampa where they worked and raised their family. In addition, to working long hours to support her family of six, she took on many roles in the community, President of the Mango Elementary PTA for many years, President of the Volunteer Fire Department Fund Raising board, paper carrier for the Tampa Tribune for many years and an avid BINGO participant. In the retirement years, Betty would often be at the Windhorst Jackpot bingo facility or the Vets bingo hall. She enjoyed BINGO so much she named her maltese puppy BINGO! She was a strong willed and courageous woman who gave much more in the life than she took. To all who loved her, we will never forget the “Porch.” For whatever reason, Betty’s Porch was a mecca for her loved ones. Emotional conversations, light hearted dice games, and coffee drinking ensued nightly on the Porch. Her passing has left a great void, the likes of her will not be seen again. We thank the Lord for knowing you, and thank you for giving and sharing your love with us, for holding on so long, giving us one more day to love you. We will carry your memory with us all the days of our lives. Mom, Betty, Gramma Betty, Aunt Betty, We All Love You!! The family will hold a celebration of life picnic at the residence on Saturday, June 23rd. at Tribute Store.