Kathryn Marie King

Kathryn Marie King, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, returned to the Lord on October 15, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas after a series of debilitating strokes. Born into a loving and rambunctious family in Corpus Christi, Texas on December 2nd, 1958, she was the third child of Richard King III and Jimmie Harrison King. Her brothers, Rich and Jamie, provided the lifelong nickname of "Sister". This could be occasionally confusing when she was introduced as Sister King and had to correct the assumption that she was a nun.

After an idyllic childhood in Corpus, she attended The Madeira School in McLean, Virginia and after graduation headed to Austin and the University of Texas where she graduated with a BA in English. She was a dedicated volunteer of the Junior League of Austin. She joined the staff of Texas Monthly Press in 1980 and later took a job with the University of Texas where she worked until her retirement in 2023.

A classic South Texas debutante, Sister was comfortable in cities, towns, and ranches, with a shotgun or a glass of red wine in hand, in a ball gown or a hunting vest. Always leading with her easy laugh and fun-loving personality, she took friendship seriously, maintaining a large and lively group of friends, some of whom she had known since kindergarten. One of her best friends recently described her as "loving, generous, hilarious, and mischievous with a wicked sense of humor". She loved cats, bears, good art and antiques, margaritas, card games, Rummikub, Onze, puzzles, travel (especially to Europe and New Orleans), Elvis, Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, and anything by the Doobie Brothers.

She is survived by her brothers James Harrison King, and his wife Tammy, Richard King IV and his wife Tamara, her stepsiblings Benjamin (Nancy) Eshleman III, Lica (Marc) Layton, and Amy (Doug) Ryder, her beloved niece and nephew, Haley (Jimmy) Wentworth and Harrison (Lauren) King, grandnephews James Ryan Wentworth III, William King Wentworth, Dolan King and her many step nephews and nieces; Kipp Layton, Alice (Jeremy) Evans, Kate Eshleman, Margaret Eshleman, Sarah (Grant) Greenblum, and Elizabeth Ryder. The family dropped the word "step" decades ago as these are truly brothers and sisters.

She will be sorely missed and always remembered by those of us that loved her. The family is particularly grateful to Leon Talent, her friend and companion for last 34 years. They traveled, enjoyed fine dining, played cards and loved being together.

A memorial service for Marie will take place at 11am on Tuesday, November 25th at Seaside Memorial Park, Corpus Christi, followed by a reception.

The family requests that any donations be made in her honor to Austin Pets Alive.