Obituary for Barbara Mae King
Barbara Mae King was born May 26, 1944 and passed away January 28, 2022.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Eva, her sister Rita, and her brother John.
She is survived by nine siblings, numerous nieces and nephews, her husband David and their children
-- Henry, Elizabeth (Sam), Catherine (John), Barbara (Chris), Rebecca (Glen), Theresa (Michael),
Jonathan, and Sarah (Javier) -- and 20 grandchildren.
She put her faith first through daily Mass, weekly prayer groups, and yearly faith-related conferences.
She always made a special effort to draw people together, to form Community. She put her faith into
action through Funeral Luncheons, community meals, small faith group gatherings, outreach programs,
Living Stations, and volunteering in official and unofficial capacities.
While the family was growing up, Barbara was involved with the Keweenaw Co-op, CrossfireYouth Group, and many Ecumenical gatherings throughout the area. She worked tirelessly as a Religious Ed teacher, bus driver, room mom, fundraiser, and whatever else was needed at the Calumet and L’Anse Catholic churches and schools. She reached out to the elderly and participated in monthly events at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility. She often worked throughout the night on one project or another so that she was available for the regular, daily demands of children, school, and church. Throughout her life she cared for family, neighbors, and even strangers with acts of kindness, small wrapped packages, anonymous loaves of bread, spiritual gifts, and thoughtful letters.
Barbara was best loved as Beloved, Mama, and Grandma; but she was best known as “hard-working”.
Whether she was attending to details, cleaning a space, preparing a meal, teaching a class, working a
job, distributing fliers, writing a note, or praying for a cause, she put her whole self into it. So much so that there was often little left over for herself. But, then, she didn’t think in terms of SELF, ever. Her dedication to faith, community, education, and above all, the sacredness of Life was felt and known by anyone who spent time with her.
In a word, Barbara was a teacher. She achieved a Bachelor Degree in Education from Western Michigan University, but what she taught cannot be learned in a book. She taught that faith was everything, doing your duty willingly was the mark of who you were, prayer could change the world, and that at no point was self-pity an acceptable response. She taught that life was hard, so you needed to put forth a little more effort. That someone having a need was a good enough reason for doing more. That people meant more than stuff or how neatly it was arranged. If she had a motto it was “Pray first, last, and always.” She taught with her life, as she was someone of few words. Her yes meant yes and her no meant no. Barbara didn’t chatter or do small talk. If she asked how you were, she meant it; and if she said she would pray then you could feel the effects immediately. She taught that God is REAL. That He cares whether the sun shines, the car runs, a child is permitted to be born, or a country is converted. She forgave generously, believed in the good of others, and had a strong sense of what was right no matter the opposition. She saw herself as the hands and feet of Christ and all she did was between herself and her Lord. She did not want recognition and so, perhaps above all, she taught humility and selflessness.
In the last twenty-some years, she was very active in the Keweenaw Catholic Churches (Joint Parish
Council, Keweenaw Catholic Pro-Life and Family Council, Hospital Communion Ministry, and the
Thursday Rosary Group). In the greater community she served on the board of The Calumet Theatre and the Keweenaw Gas Cooperative. She volunteered with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and helped the Life Outreach Center in many ways. She was the
Houghton County Coordinator for Life Chain for over 20 years.
She is missed.
Her Funeral Mass will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Calumet on Friday, May 6 at 9:00 AM,
followed by a short social gathering in the church hall.
In consideration for those unable to travel, a Memorial Mass will be at St. William Catholic Church in Walled Lake on Wednesday, March 16 at 5:00 PM.
Interment will be in Lake View Cemetery with family only.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Eva, her sister Rita, and her brother John.
She is survived by nine siblings, numerous nieces and nephews, her husband David and their children
-- Henry, Elizabeth (Sam), Catherine (John), Barbara (Chris), Rebecca (Glen), Theresa (Michael),
Jonathan, and Sarah (Javier) -- and 20 grandchildren.
She put her faith first through daily Mass, weekly prayer groups, and yearly faith-related conferences.
She always made a special effort to draw people together, to form Community. She put her faith into
action through Funeral Luncheons, community meals, small faith group gatherings, outreach programs,
Living Stations, and volunteering in official and unofficial capacities.
While the family was growing up, Barbara was involved with the Keweenaw Co-op, CrossfireYouth Group, and many Ecumenical gatherings throughout the area. She worked tirelessly as a Religious Ed teacher, bus driver, room mom, fundraiser, and whatever else was needed at the Calumet and L’Anse Catholic churches and schools. She reached out to the elderly and participated in monthly events at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility. She often worked throughout the night on one project or another so that she was available for the regular, daily demands of children, school, and church. Throughout her life she cared for family, neighbors, and even strangers with acts of kindness, small wrapped packages, anonymous loaves of bread, spiritual gifts, and thoughtful letters.
Barbara was best loved as Beloved, Mama, and Grandma; but she was best known as “hard-working”.
Whether she was attending to details, cleaning a space, preparing a meal, teaching a class, working a
job, distributing fliers, writing a note, or praying for a cause, she put her whole self into it. So much so that there was often little left over for herself. But, then, she didn’t think in terms of SELF, ever. Her dedication to faith, community, education, and above all, the sacredness of Life was felt and known by anyone who spent time with her.
In a word, Barbara was a teacher. She achieved a Bachelor Degree in Education from Western Michigan University, but what she taught cannot be learned in a book. She taught that faith was everything, doing your duty willingly was the mark of who you were, prayer could change the world, and that at no point was self-pity an acceptable response. She taught that life was hard, so you needed to put forth a little more effort. That someone having a need was a good enough reason for doing more. That people meant more than stuff or how neatly it was arranged. If she had a motto it was “Pray first, last, and always.” She taught with her life, as she was someone of few words. Her yes meant yes and her no meant no. Barbara didn’t chatter or do small talk. If she asked how you were, she meant it; and if she said she would pray then you could feel the effects immediately. She taught that God is REAL. That He cares whether the sun shines, the car runs, a child is permitted to be born, or a country is converted. She forgave generously, believed in the good of others, and had a strong sense of what was right no matter the opposition. She saw herself as the hands and feet of Christ and all she did was between herself and her Lord. She did not want recognition and so, perhaps above all, she taught humility and selflessness.
In the last twenty-some years, she was very active in the Keweenaw Catholic Churches (Joint Parish
Council, Keweenaw Catholic Pro-Life and Family Council, Hospital Communion Ministry, and the
Thursday Rosary Group). In the greater community she served on the board of The Calumet Theatre and the Keweenaw Gas Cooperative. She volunteered with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and helped the Life Outreach Center in many ways. She was the
Houghton County Coordinator for Life Chain for over 20 years.
She is missed.
Her Funeral Mass will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Calumet on Friday, May 6 at 9:00 AM,
followed by a short social gathering in the church hall.
In consideration for those unable to travel, a Memorial Mass will be at St. William Catholic Church in Walled Lake on Wednesday, March 16 at 5:00 PM.
Interment will be in Lake View Cemetery with family only.