Lynne King

Martha Lynne King, known to many simply as “Lynne,” passed away peacefully on May 18, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born in McAllen, Texas, to Selmer Conrad Kjelde and Clara Thora Christensen Kjelde. In 1941, her family of origin moved to Oregon, where she grew up on a farm alongside her siblings—Eva, Alys, Jim, Jack, and later, Donna.

Lynne graduated with honors from Junction City High School, where she met the love of her life, Loren Allen King. United by their shared love of music, they sang together in the school choir and were active in their local church. They married in 1951 and built a life rooted in family. They relocated their family to Conroe, Texas in 1967.

Early in her life, Lynne worked at a bank in Eugene—a perfect fit for her natural talent with numbers. That skill served her well through the years, particularly during countless Monopoly games with her children and grandchildren, where she was always the trusted family banker.

She and Loren raised four children: David Allen King of Conroe, TX; Nila Lynne Coats (Bobby) of Splendora, TX; Matthew Brian King (Tracy) of Conroe, TX; and Julie Ann Spencer (Oliver) of Ridgefield, WA. Her legacy continues through seven beloved grandchildren—Bobby, Barry, Melissa, Daniel, Ashton, Meg, and Audrey—seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Lynne’s true calling was found in her love for children. Whether you knew her as Mom, Momma, Grayma, Grandma, Grams, Great Grandma, Mama King, Lynne, Mrs. King, or just “King,” you felt the warmth of her boundless affection and patience. She rocked babies, sang lullabies, played endlessly, baked, colored, collected locust shells, produced puppet shows and cheered her way through generations of memories. From her years at Conroe Bible Church to her treasured role as a toddler teacher at Presbyterian Day School, Lynne offered each child she encountered a piece of her heart. If Mrs. King ever held you, you were hers.

Her kindness was quiet but powerful, and her impact immeasurable. Many of the families from Conroe that she touched stayed in contact through the years—by phone calls, letters, cards, or Facebook notes—sustaining her with love and gratitude well into her later life. Once in Washington, she had visits from her brothers Jim and Jack, accompanied by their wives, June and Jessica. Her niece, Sandy and great niece, Rachel kept her laughing and supplied with honey. A huge amount of gratitude to our loving neighbor, Jerry Claar, who became mom’s close friend. Jerry spoiled her with pedicures, milkshakes and many adventures.

As Walt Whitman once wrote, “I am larger and better than I thought. I did not know I held so much goodness.” Lynne embodied that truth. She held all the goodness, and more.

Losing a mother changes everything. You don’t just lose a parent—you lose your greatest comfort. The one who stayed strong so you could remain soft. The one who made the hard things bearable. But in her place remain the gifts she gave so freely—kindness, patience, and grace.

How lucky we are to have loved someone so deeply that we now feel her absence so profoundly.

Lynne was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Loren, her parents, Sam and Clara Kjelde and her sisters, Eva and Alys.

Lynne’s final wish was to be cremated and laid to rest alongside Loren in the hills of Kentucky—a place that held a special place in both their hearts.

The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff at Brookdale Fisher’s Landing in Vancouver, WA, for providing Lynne with such compassionate care and enduring friendship in her final years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Asher House (www.theasherhouse.com), an Oregon animal sanctuary that Lynne dearly loved.