Mary Jane King

Mary Jane Hamilton King passed away peacefully on January 2, 2021 at the age of 93 after a full life blessed with family, music, and the love of friends. A lifelong resident of Plainview, she was born there on November 24, 1927 to parents Seleta Mary Smith Hamilton and Harold Marion Hamilton, and she died at the home of her eldest daughter, Mary Karen. With an abiding love of books, music, and all the finest things in life, Mary Jane majored in music at Texas Technological College, where her future husband, J. W. King, Jr. also attended. Following her graduation in 1948, she accepted a position with Big Spring Schools as high school choir director and discovered to her surprise, that J. W. was the band director there. Romance ensued, and Mary Jane and J. W. married on May 27, 1950 at the First Methodist Church in Plainview. Following the birth of their daughter, Mary Karen in Big Spring in 1952, the young family moved to Plainview to begin life as farmers on the High Plains of West Texas. A turn of fate presented J. W. with the opportunity to direct the band at Hale Center, and he agreed to step in on a temporary basis until a permanent hire was found….17 years later! With a common love of music, Mary Jane and J. W. began their life in Plainview, joining the First Methodist Church as organist and choir director. Mary Jane established a piano studio, where she taught generations of students to share her love of music. In addition to teaching piano, she performed for weddings, funerals, and other functions in the community until she moved to be near her children in 2011. A member of Musical Arts, Gamma Delphin and PEO Clubs, Mary Jane hosted and performed regularly for meetings throughout her life. She was honored by the Plainview Cultural Arts Council with the Silver Star Award for her contributions to Plainview’s cultural life, an award given “to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication and service to the arts in Plainview over a period of many years.” She is survived by her children, Mary Karen Clardy, Nancy Kingsanders, and John Harold King; grandchildren Townley Teso, Ashley Martinez, Laura Daniels and Schuyler King; and great grandchildren Emerson Greer Teso and Beau Wesley Daniels. Memorial donations to the J. W. King Memorial Band Scholarship Fund (c/o Office of Institutional Advancement at Texas Tech University) and First United Methodist Church of Plainview (1001 West 7th, Plainview, Texas 79072, 806.293.3658) will be welcomed by the family. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be scheduled pending CDC guidelines.