Ruby M. King

On March 21, 1924, a daughter was born to Albert Edward Jones, Sr. and Bessie Simmons Jones in Alco, Louisiana. The seventh of ten children, she would prove to be the last survivor. She was wed to William Ezra King, a WWII veteran in Hardin County Texas in 1947 and resided in Silsbee, Texas for years. From this union was born first Nona Glenna, and last Melvin Don.

She is survived by her daughter Nona Jenkins and husband Oscar of Beaumont and an adopted son (grandson), Melvin Don King, Jr. and wife Angie and a second grandson, Gerald Michael Jenkins and wife Helen, and great grandchildren, Blade King, Kennedy King of Lilburn, Georgia, and O'Donus Jenkins of Galveston, Texas. In addition, she is survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and their children whom she dearly loved and who loved her in return. 

Ruby became an expert seamstress, and cook. She taught herself upholstering and was very gifted with her mind and hands. She enjoyed learning new things such as playing the piano, for which she took a course. She also dreamed of doing arts and crafts and painting. She purchased many books on these subjects. Forever young at heart, she took a driving course and began driving a car over the state after she was well into her fifties. The death of her son, Melvin Don in the United States Marines, brought her great grief, but she found comfort for her loss, when Rose Mary Lee, his intended wife allowed her to adopt and raise his son of the same name. She imparted to him her own love of learning and doing things. Self assured and independent, Ruby took on old age and its infirmities on her own terms. Thus she lived on her own with her daughter's assistance until she joined her parents and siblings on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at the age of 94 years old. She passed away peacefully during her sleep in Port Arthur, Texas where she had been a resident for nearly forty years. Besides her family, Ruby cultivated scores of close friends whose names her age did not erase. We will miss her. 

A Graveside service will be held at Canada Memorial Gardens in Elizabeth, LA, December 22, at 12:00 pm

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