Ora Novelyn King passed from this life on March 14, 2019, at Hodgeman County Health Center in Jetmore, Kansas. She was only 23 days short of her 90th birthday. Forever a Texan at heart, she had spent her final fifteen wonderful months in the center of Hanston, Kansas. She lived in the house with the red door. Grandsons, granddaughters-in-law, and great grandchildren frequented that home often, always rewarded with memorable experiences.
Novelyn was born April 6 1929, to Gladys Ann Hibler Fisher and Harvey Lee Fisher in Brown County Texas. She attended Owens Community Schools and graduated from Blanket High School in 1946. She married Walter Thomas King on February 20, 1949. Deborah Ann King was born into that union June 12, 1950 and Tommy Lee King was born January 14, 1953.
Novelyn was a homemaker and operated a sewing business out of her home throughout her lifetime. Until only recently did she retire from sewing professionally. She was a constant source of help to friends and family in any needful situation. She was never too busy to be available for service. The quality and quantity of her work was amazing. As with all of us, her talents were most certainly a gift of God. The quilt that covers her casket was started by her mother, Gladys Fisher, who died of cancer before its completion. Novelyn finished the quilt after her mother’s death and was possibly her most cherished sewing creation. Anything that could made with a thread and needle, whether wedding gowns, men’s suits, Christmas stockings, quilts, embroidery…even horse blankets for her son-in-law’s hunting trip were her heart’s delight!
She was a lifelong Baptist, coming to faith in Christ at a Revival meeting at Salt Creek Baptist Church in Brown County. She was baptized upon her profession of faith at Melwood Baptist Church the summer of 1945. Novelyn became a member of Early First Baptist Church in 1953 and was a faithful member of the Jewell Sunday School class. Upon her arrival in Hanston in November 2018, one of her first priorities was a membership request at First Baptist Church at Hanston. Her commitment to the practice of her Christian faith was of primary importance.
Novelyn loved going to the Early Senior Citizen meetings and after her move to Kansas, continued to attend the Hanston Senior Citizen meetings. She volunteered for years to deliver for Meals on Wheels and also at the Good Samaritan Center in Brownwood. Once in Kansas, Grandma King got to attend great grandchildren’s football and basketball games, school programs, birthday parties and gave great granddaughter’s sewing lessons every Tuesday. And even learned to grow and cook with rhubarb! She adored driving out to the vast corn and wheat fields and watching the harvest time. She never learned to love the incessant wind, however.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Gladys Fisher, brother Harvey (Buster), and husband Walter. Survivors include her son, Tommy King and wife Frances; daughter Debbie and husband Ronnie Ruff; sister Una May Eoff and husband G. W.; sister LaDelia Ann Edgar; grandsons Travis Charles Ruff and wife Katherine, Brad Thomas Ruff and wife Cheri, Todd Lowell Ruff and wife Candace: granddaughter Julie and Husband; Eric Lee King and wife Krista, 15 great grandchildren; Garrett, Jessie and Kody Ruff; Braeden, Austin, Conner and Dawson Ruff; Morgan, Mallorie, Mollie, Madilynn and Mac Ruff; Claire and Luke King; Grayson King; 8 nephews, one niece and a multitude of distant relatives and many close friends.
Funeral services will be held 10 AM Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Early, Texas with Rev Eddie Ailshie officiating Interment will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Monday at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.heartlandfueralhome.net