Doris Marie King

Doris M. King, always positive and happy and greatly loved by her family, passed away on June 29, 2010, at the age of 88. One early Shoshoni, Wyoming morning, on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1921, Marie Herbst told her husband she was ready to deliver their first child. Her husband, John, jumped on his horse to travel 15 miles to town in order to tell the doctor his news. The doctor returned on his horse and buggy to a tiny cabin that had but just a mattress on the floor. There he delivered Marie and John's baby girl, Doris Marie Herbst. Directly following the delivery, the doctor wasted little time telling the parents Doris was healthy, as he was concerned about the Thanksgiving dinner waiting for him back in town. Although Marie and John had no Thanksgiving dinner, they did have a baby girl that would grow to be a woman many will call a wonderful mother, wife, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. Growing up Doris was raised by pioneering parents in central Wyoming. She is the oldest of four and graduated Shoshoni High School in 1940. At the age of ten, Doris caught a glimpse of a handsome Army man, eight years her senior, helping on her uncle's ranch. When she got home she told her mother that she was certain he was going to be the man she would marry. Her mother just chuckled and thought she was just a young girl with a crush, but throughout the years this young Army man would return to the ranch on his leave from the service to visit the family. As Doris grew older and graduated high school, this young Army man was taken by Doris' beauty and a romance grew. At the age of 21, Doris got her wish, and was asked for her hand in marriage to the still very handsome Army man, Albert King. Their love flourished as they built a life and family together. As an Army wife, she lived in Pasadena, CA, Adak, AK, Tooele, UT, Cody, WY, and Texarkana, TX. When stationed in California, their love and family grew as their first child, Carol Ann, was born. Immediately following Carol's birth, Al left immediately for England where he served until the end of the war. After the war, the family of three moved onto the base in Adak where Doris, along with all the other Army wives, met with General Dwight D. Eisenhower. When visiting with the wives, the General asked them what they needed from him. Doris, along with the other women exclaimed, "We could really use some fresh fruit and vegetables." Interestingly enough, fresh fruit and vegetables were delivered within the next two days of his visit. The family of Doris and Albert was not yet complete until after their move to Wyoming, when their second child, John Albert "Johnnie" was born in Cody, Wyoming. Little time after John was born, Albert retired from the military in 1954 and moved Doris and her two children to live in Loveland. It was in Loveland that Doris became the first production woman hired by Hewlett-Packard and who went on to be a production line leader. She even knew both Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard. Doris' love for her husband and their love of dancing together grew when moving to Loveland. Everybody who knew where the Kings were spending their Saturday nights. If there was a Polka dance or Dutch Hop two common faces on the dance floor would be that of Doris and Albert. The joy it brought them to dance also brought joy to their children's faces and later, their grandchildren to watch. Their dancing and love for each other was a beautiful display for all to see. The love that their children hold for their spouses stems from the powerful love these two had for each other. Her grandchildren and even great grandchildren have had something amazing to see when it came to Doris and Al's love for each other. Their love was truly the definition of love unconditionally and eternally. Although dancing was a high point to their weekends, once Doris retired from HP, she and Al also enjoyed camping with their RV at San Padre Island, Laughlin, Las Vegas and fishing at Red Feather Lakes. Her Thanksgiving dinners were the best. All the grandkids will never forget her special turkey dressing, along with all the wonderful meals and special breakfasts she would make for them, all with love. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Albert, her mother, father and brother, Charles. She is survived by her son, John and wife Carol, and her daughter Carol and husband Chuck Smotherman, her brother John and sister Elmira. She has four grandchildren she was always so proud of: Trevor and wife Michelle; Derek and wife Joeli; Ashley King; Sharra and fiancé Michael Schleiger. Her love grew when she became a great grandmother to: McKenzie, Delaney, Britton and Blake Smotherman, and Trevor Derek King. Although Doris is no longer dancing with us here on earth, we know that Doris and Al are once again together dancing their first dance in heaven. Funeral services will be at Hunter Chapel, Allnutt Funeral Home at 2:00, July 2, with interment at Resthaven Memorial Gardens following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VFW in Loveland.