Lucille Harriette (Wright) King

Lucille Harriette (Wright) King of Midland, MI was the daughter of the late Harriette Louise (Hall) Wright and Lester Orion Wright of Jackson, MI, born in Jackson on January 13, 1931, and died January 4, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard (Dick) E. King on October 27, 2021, daughter&Nyann Sue (King) Forster, by her brother Edwin Wright and his wife Winifred, nephew James Wright and niece Marjorie Wright.

Lucille was born and raised in a loving Jackson home at 941 S. Jackson Street. Her father spent his childhood in Jonesville, MI where he was valedictorian of his high school graduating class and subsequently worked at the Jackson Post Office for 51 years. Lucille was exposed to farming as her father had a hobby farm near Coldwater, MI. She was raised in the church and learned about service to others as her mother was very active in the Greenwood Avenue Methodist Church (now Trinity United Methodist) and the Jackson community. Lucille excelled in her studies and graduated from Jackson High School as a member of the class of 1948. At the Greenwood Avenue church, she taught bible school and participated in many church functions. Later in life, Lucille and Dick helped with the youth fellowship.

She recorded in her diary (given to her by the Bendall family for Christmas in 1945) that her first date with future husband Richard (Dick) E. King was February 4th, 1946 and that they were going steady just four days later as she knew he was the one. They were married at the Haven Methodist Church on February 22, 1950, by the Rev. Amos Bogart with witnesses Ray H. King and Mrs. Cleo (Phelps) Philipp and by many family and friends. Dick worked and lived with Lucille on a dairy farm owned by his brother's father-in-law, Dr. Townsend of Vandercook Lake, while she initially worked at the phone company. She had desired to go to college, but her father did not believe women needed college and declined to support her education. Lucille's first child, Nyann Sue King, was born in May 1951, and her second child Scott Richard King in 1954. By this time her husband was working at Goodyear in Jackson. She helped her husband with the building of their first house - living in the basement the first winter while saving money for the rest of construction assisted by many family members. She worked as a Napoleon School District substitute teacher and was active in the Napoleon Methodist Church, Ackerson Lake PTA, Girl Scout andCub Scout leader, ThunderbirdSquare Dance Club, and the National Kidney Foundation.

Dick developed health issues working as a tire press operator and they decided he should attend college at Tri-State College in Angola, IN. While Dick excelled in math and science, Lucille helped him with his college English classes. She later supported Dick with additional studies at Michigan State University. All the while, Lucille adeptly managed the family budget, household, and education of their two children as the family lived on rent from their first house.

In 1968, Lucille and her family moved to Midland, MI where her son and three of her grandchildren subsequently graduated from H.H. Dow High School. She helped Dick build the home they would live in together for the next 53 years until Dick's death on October 27, 2021, and her passing suddenly at that home on January 4, 2022. During her time in Midland, she was active in the First United Methodist Church, The King's Daughters Home, and John Alden DAR. She spent many years volunteering with her husband at the local Salvation Army. She took an active role in helping her daughter Nyann (King) Forster with her jewelry business and with her children as Nyann died with one child in college and two in high school.

Lucille pursued interests in numerous health topics, formed support groups for Celiac disease, and championed a gluten-free diet before most doctors. Lucille and her husband made numerous sacrifices for their children and grandchildren and assisted financially with their college educations. Her two children and two of her grandchildren graduated from Albion College. After Dick's retirement from Dow Chemical, Lucille managed several rental properties while her handy husband performed updates and repairs. She was a stalwart of strength providing 24-hour care for her ailing husband at home over the last years of his life. She and her husband Dick were always careful not to draw attention to their donations through the years but were very active in helping others both with their finances and talents. Lucille managed a great deal between family, volunteering, rental properties and her husband's health - a less capable and loving person would have been overwhelmed many years before.

She will be greatly missed by her son Scott R. King MD and his wife Roma and stepson Adam Swanson MA, son-in-law Allen Forster, Nyann's 3 children Mathew (Forster) Day JD and his wife Jackie and daughter McKenna of Glen Carbon, IL, Ryan Forster Ph.D. and his wife Stephanie of Arlington, VA, and Neil Forster MD and his wife Jessica and their three children Benjamin, Cora, and Claire of Traverse City, and many friends and family. Lucille was justifiably very proud of her accomplished grandchildren and played an active role in their lives, even before her daughter's death.

A memorial service will be planned for both Dick and Lucille in the spring at their original hometown of Jackson, MI. The location will be near the family cemetery plot which is located in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The King's Daughter Home in Midland which is a non-profit faith-based resource for those in need of assisted living or more intensive nursing care. Lucille dedicated her time volunteering there in many ways for more than 40 years. Arrangements are the care of Wilson MILLER Funeral Home 4210 N. Saginaw Rd Midland, Michigan

King's Daughters Home
2410 Rodd St., Midland MI 48640
Tel: 1-989-839-9800