Edith Gilbert King

May 9, 1929 - June 21, 2025

Edie was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Mabelle and John B. King. She lost her father early to the Stock Market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression. She was subsequently raised by her mother who moved them to Iowa. She attended the University of Iowa graduating in speech pathology. In 1952 she and two friends moved to Oklahoma City where she was employed by the Oklahoma City Public School system as a speech pathologist. A gifted learner of languages, Edie was always interested in communication and received her Ph.D in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma where she spent several years studying the communication patterns of chimpanzees.

Dr. King was always drawn to the underserved where her services were needed the most. As a clinical psychologist she spent her early years working for the Department of Institutions, Social and Rehabilitative Services in state run facilities where she provided therapy, consultation and direct services for adolescents in Tecumseh, Pryor, Taft, Muskogee, Helena, and Sulphur, Oklahoma. She served as Chief Psychologist for the Jim Talliferro Community Mental Health Center in Lawton, Oklahoma for many years. In the late 70's she was approached by the Oklahoma Correctional system to develop a Special Programs Unit at Joe Harp Medium Security Prison in Lexington, Oklahoma. As Director of SPU, she was very successful in developing and coordinating a unique program for a targeted group of inmates. After leaving Joe Harp and recognizing the need for more mental health services, Dr. King agreed to be an active participant in planning and opening of the North Care Mental Health facility where she served as the first director.

Having first-hand experience in state facilities and corrections, Dr. King enthusiastically participated in starting the first Oklahoma Drug Court, a structured support and rehabilitation program helping to redirect people to achieve and maintain abstinence from drugs. During and after the Murrah Building bombing in 1995, Dr. King was instrumental in providing services to victims of the tragedy and worked pro bono with a group of HUD survivors relating to PTSD issues for years after the event.

In 1999 she celebrated her first retirement from the Oklahoma County Crisis Intervention Center. It wasn't long after that she went to work for the Social Security Disability office. After many years of service to the community and seeing clients in private practice, she retired again in 2021.

Edie's commitment to sharing her gifts extended to her own church community, the First Presbyterian Church. Participating in the choir and playing hand bells for decades, she also was involved in Sunday adult bible study and served as an elder and deacon of the church. Her gift of time and talent extended to participating twice in church sponsored missionary trips to Uganda, Africa building schools and providing support systems to people in need. During this time, she was also instrumental in starting and directing a church sponsored Stephen Ministry program providing services to congregants during difficult times.

Edie was intellectually curious and adventurous. She loved to travel and experience different cultures and historical sites. Her joy was her music and playing the piano (her paternal grandmother was a concert pianist in Washington DC). She read crime stories, wrote poetry and took walks with her dog Bonnie Lou and loved to be with her friends and family. She was a loving and empathic person who cared about her fellow humans unconditionally. She was loved by her family and friends who appreciated her for her quick wit, intelligence and basic goodness. She will be very much missed by all those who had the good fortune to cross her path.

She is survived by a host of cousins who live in Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, and Nashville. Arrangements are under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street and Draper. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the Edith G. King Scholarship fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, the First Presbyterian Church or Pivot.

A memorial service in honor of Edith will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City.