Beatrice Lillian King

Beatrice Lillian King, 96, passed away February 16, 2012 in Manor Court Nursing Home, Peru, IL. She donated her body to the Anatomy Gifts Registry. Beatrice was born July 14, 1915, in Pinckneyville, IL to Charles A. and Lillian (Benedict) Eichholz. She married Glen King on April 19, 1938. Bea was a homemaker who kept busy with volunteer activities throughout her life. She was a very spiritual woman who loved and practiced her Catholic faith all her life. She was also very devoted to her family. After Glen retired, they moved to Maryville to be near the Smoky Mountains they loved dearly. Bea was very active in her church. After Glen’s death, Bea continued to live in Tennessee until moving to a senior living center in Spring Valley, IL in 1991. While there, she became an associate with the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation and volunteered at St. Margaret Hospital in the pastoral care department. In 2001, she moved to Crawfordsville, IN to an assisted living facility to be near family who had previously moved from the Spring Valley area. In 2006, when her daughter and son-in-law retired, she returned with them to Illinois, this time to an assisted living facility in Peru, IL. She was preceded in death by: her husband in 1982; two brothers, Harison and Jim; one sister, Mary. She is survived by three children, Mary (Lloyd) Herr of Crawfordsville, IN, Richard (Donna) King of Corpus Christi, TX, and Susan (Roger) Draper of Peru, IL; 10 grandchildren, Michael Bannon, Mary Burger, Joseph Bannon, Timothy Bannon, Brian King, Elizabeth Simmons, Raymond King, Robert Draper, William Draper, and Daniel Draper; three step grandchildren, Thomas Herr, Daniel Herr, and Edward Herr; 19 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. A Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Alcoa. Gathering and time for reflection will be at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 858 Louisville Road, Alcoa, TN 37701. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Beatrice Lillian King please visit our Sympathy Store.