MJ "Sam" King

MJ Sam King, of Clive, Iowa, passed away peacefully at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, March 5, 2014, surrounded by her loving family. Although she had not enjoyed good health in the past several years, her death was sudden due to a stroke. Her family is grateful she did not suffer long with her passing.

Sam was born to Joseph and Ruby Wheatley in Marne, Iowa, on July 6, 1934. She was the unexpected bundle of joy that arrived later in life for her parents, her closest sibling in the lineup being 15 years older. She relished being the center of her parents’ attention, a quality that stayed with her for her entire life. Sam attended Atlantic High School where she graduated in May 1952 and then married her high school sweetheart, Wayne King, in June of that same year. A daughter, Carla, was born a year later in 1953. Another daughter, Michele, followed 13 years later in 1967. In 1959 Sam and Wayne relocated to Des Moines due to an employment opportunity for Wayne. She also went to work for the phone company that same year, what was then Northwestern Bell, for which she lovingly referred to as “Ma Bell.” She started as a telephone operator and worked her way up the ranks to a management position, retiring in 1989. She played an integral part in the development of the groundbreaking technology of videoconferencing of the 1980s. This was probably one of the most proud moments of her career with the phone company. Sam was fortunate enough to retire early in life at the age of 55. She was able to kick back and relax after working for 40 years (first job was at age 14) of hard work. Retirement enabled her to frequently patron such establishments as Younkers and Josephs Jewelers. The family joke was always that Younkers had dedicated a department to her (likely house wares and linens) in honor of her contribution to the local economy. She was proud of teaching her granddaughter at a young age to recognize “yellow dot clearance items” and made sure her grandkids did not lack for clothing (nor any other family member). A trip to “Younks” was cathartic for her and often the highlight of her week as she aged. Wayne would let her loose at one entrance, loyally wait in the car for the pickup call, and meet her at an entirely different entrance as she often got lost inside the store.

Family, friends, and her two cats, Milly and Billy, were the most important things in Sam’s life. She adored her grandkids, Quinn and Maddi, and wouldn’t hesitate to bend a stranger’s ear while she gushed over them. Sam had a heart of gold and was generous to a fault. She loved to give more than receive. Giving was as second nature to her as breathing. Friends could not walk out the door of her house without a little gift of something.

Sam is survived by her devoted husband of 62 years, Wayne King of Clive; daughters, Carla (Patrick) McGinnis of Taos, NM, Michele Perdue of Cumming, IA; grandchildren, Quinn and Maddi Perdue of Cumming, IA; a brother, Lester Wheatley (Elleen) of Elkhorn, IA; her beloved kitties, Milly and Billy; and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Ruby Wheatley; her sisters, Dorothy Molgaard and Ruby Wheatley; a brother, Boyd Wheatley; and son-in-law, Scott Perdue.

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, March 10, 2014, at 3 p.m. at the Woodlands Creek Active Retirement Community Clubhouse, 12605 Woodlands Parkway, in Clive, IA, followed by visitation with family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial contributions be made in Sam’s name to the Raccoon Valley Animal Sanctuary, P.O. Box 38, Boone, IA 50036 or the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, at www.arl-iowa.org. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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