Lavelle Kay King (Gentry) age 85, died peacefully on May 14, 2018. She was born on May 25, 1933 in Iuka, Arkansas to Harve and Alma Gentry. She graduated from Shenandoah High School in 1951. She married Walter King, also from Shenandoah, Iowa. They moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Walter worked as an auto mechanic and Lavelle as a bookkeeper. Later the couple moved to Gladstone and there raised three children, Kayla (Gardner), Dan King and Gail (Nickelson). Lavelle raised their children in the Church of the Nazarene, making sure they never missed an opportunity to learn more about the Bible and the love of the Lord. She was often a Sunday school teacher or nursery worker. Lavelle was the youngest of eleven children. Her children and many nieces and nephews will remember her as one that valued faith, family and education. Lavelle worked at Gladstone City Hall for many years as a clerk and bookkeeper. She loved meeting the public and was remembered by her kind yet dignified manner.
Lavelle was preceded in death by husband Walter E. King, son Dan King, five sisters and four brothers.
Lavelle is survived by brother Hollis Gentry, Texarkansas, TX; daughter Kayla (Glen) Gardner, Grand Blanc, MI; daughter-in-law Elisabeth King, Canton, GA; daughter Gail Nickelson, Gladstone, MO; grandchildren Kelsey (Jeffery) Hendrix, Xi'an, China; Blake (Deidre) Gardner, San Antonio, TX; Staff Sargent Stetson Nichelson, Fort Bragg, NC; Stephanie (Bryan) Johnston, Cottonwood, CA; Alexander King, Canton, GA and Bianca King, Canton, GA.
A visitation will be held on Friday, May 18 from 6-8 pm and a graveside service will be on Saturday, May 19 at 9 am both at White Chapel Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.
Family suggests any memorial contributions be sent to New Hope Church of the Nazarene, 4330 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64116 or your local place of worship.
