Suzanne Louise King

Suzanne Smith King completed her earthly journey Feb. 12, 2017. Susie was a wife, mother, grandmother extraordinaire, community activist and was devoted to the work God gave her to do.

            Suzanne Louise Smith was born to Dr. Carroll Smith and Lucille B. Smith in Spokane, Wash., Jan. 15, 1928. She had a delightful childhood in Spokane surrounded by a loving family. Among her favorite childhood memories were summers spent at Camp Fire Girl camp on Lake Coeur D’Alene. She excelled at ice skating and golf. Susie graduated from Lewis and Clark High School and Holy Names College, both in Spokane. Following college she taught elementary school for two years in Spokane. Susie left Spokane to pursue her desire to be closer to the heart of state politics. She accepted a position at the State Capitol in the Attorney General’s office. While she was there, she met the love of her life, James E. King, to whom she affectionately referred to as “the King.”

            Jim and Sue were married Oct. 3, 1953, at St. Aloysius Church in Spokane. After her wedding, she left her job and settled in Centralia, where she lived out the remainder of her days.

            During the early years of her marriage, Susie developed a circle of friends that golfed and played bridge together. Sue’s accomplishments were many. She and Jim raised seven children and generously provided them with wonderful childhood memories. Susie was active in the schools and education of her children. She was a Girl Scouts leader and an avid knitter. Sue’s home never lacked for fresh baked bread and cookies, she always grew a plentiful garden and the nightly family dinners frequently included friends of the children.

            She served at St Mary Church, primarily in St. Martha’s circle for many years. Her love of politics continued and she tirelessly worked on a multitude of campaigns. Sue was elected Republican Precinct Committee Officer for several terms. For her years of faithful service to the Republican Party she received the Rail Splitter award in 1998. Both Jim and Sue had a tremendous heart for the Vietnamese refugees who escaped and survived the war in Vietnam. She helped organize and implement a sponsorship program. Through that body of work, she was able to help restore the lives of numerous Vietnamese citizens. Sue’s Vietnamese son, Trung Vu, became part of the King family and lived with them through his high school years. Sue’s dearest community work was to the lives of those yet to be born. She devoted extraordinary time and energy to their Right to Life. For that she received the Humanitarian Award for Lewis County Human Life in 1987. She exemplified the motto, “I said to myself, ‘Somebody ought to do something about this.’ Then I realized I am somebody”.

            Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Carroll Smith; siblings, Carroll Smith Jr. and Candace Ghering; daughter, Amy King Robinson; and grandson, Isaac C. Hanna.

            Suzanne is survived by her husband, Jim King of Centralia; daughter, Teresa (John) Hanna of Spokane; son, Jim (Melissa) King of Winthrop, Maine; daughter, Mary King of Bonny Lake, Wash,; son, Matt (Kim) King of Bend, Ore,; son, Stephen (Patricia) King of Portland, Tenn.; daughter, Kathy Wood of Centralia; 12 grandchildren, Jennifer, Matthew, Michelle, Jon, Lacy, R.J., Becky, Lavyn, Spencer, Christopher, Rachel and Anthony; two great-granddaughters, Hanna and Freya; and several nieces and nephews.

            Viewing is at 4 p.m., and Vigil at 5 p.m., at Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary, in Centralia, Feb. 23, 2017. Funeral Mass will be at St. Mary Church, in Centralia, at 11 a.m., Feb. 24, 2017, with a graveside service to follow.

            Donations will be made in her honor to: Human Life of Washington State, 5013 Pacific Highway E. #5-0, Fife, WA 98424 or at www.humanlife.net.

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