Frances I. Vandervort King

Frances Irene Vandervort King was surrounded by her family when she passed away on February 9, 2011 at Odyssey hospice in Mesa Arizona. Frances was born on February 6, 1936 in Morgantown West Virginia to Pauline and Kenneth Vandervort. At the age of 4 she moved to Walla Walla Washington. At about the age of 7 or 8, she moved to Modesto California and graduated from Thomas Downey High School.

She met her husband Thomas E. King, in Merced California while he was stationed at Castle Air Force Base. They married on July 7, 1955 and later had three daughters. In 1965, she moved with her family to Inglewood California where she worked as a radio dispatcher for the Inglewood Police Department. In 1968, she moved with her family to Phoenix Arizona and again worked as a radio dispatcher for the Phoenix Police Department retiring in 1985. She resided in their rural home in Chandler Heights Arizona but temporarily relocated with Tom to Horn Lake Mississippi from 1985 to 1990 before returning to their home in Chandler Heights.

Frances loved all animals. She and Tom became involved in raising and showing Great Pyrenees Dogs with one of their dogs, Cheyenne, winning “Best Opposite” They were also activists in Great Pyrenees rescue, caring for abused and abandoned dogs and finding happy homes for many.

Frances loved to travel and each year took family vacations extensively throughout the United States including the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska. They also traveled to Canada, Grand Cayman Islands, and San Juan Puerto Rico.

Frances’s life revolved around her family, she was a loving wife and wonderful caring mother. She is survived by her husband, Thomas E. King, daughters; Kimberley Lovely, Sorelle Norman, and Yvonne Snyder; her brother Frank Vandervort; sisters Corlene Goff and Kathleen Hernandez, and grandchildren; Lindsay, Ian, Christian and, Melysse Lovely; Aaron and Alyssa Norman; Logan, Tory, and Collin Snyder, and also her three great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother David Vandervort and sister Cecilalice Cherry.

Frances was a kind and caring person, respectful to others and always defending those who could not defend themselves. She instilled this kindness to her children and lived by the Golden Rule. Frances never met a stranger and would give her last dollar to anyone in need. She was always concerned for the wellbeing of others, she would help in any way she could, putting others before herself. Her passions were animals and reading books. She had a natural, built-in smile.

Frances loved her family and showed it every day through her actions. She sacrificed her own wants and needs so that her family could have nice things. There was never a day when she didn’t say “I love you” to Tom and her daughters. Every goodbye, goodnight, and telephone call ended with “I love you”. And she was always polite, consistently saying please and thank you, usually followed by the word “dear”. Her absence has left a painful void in the hearts of all who knew her.