June 18, 1929 — Jan. 21, 2016

Esther A. King, 86, of Coldwater, formerly of Cassopolis, passed peacefully Thursday evening, Jan. 21, 2016, in Community Health Center of Branch County in Coldwater.

She was born June 18, 1929, in Dowagiac, Michigan, the middle child of Charles Ray and Ruth (Elliott) Churchill. She was a graduate of Dowagiac High School. She married Marlin C. King Feb. 12, 1948, in Dowagiac at her parents’ home. He preceded her in death in 1986. She was also preceded in death by her parents and one daughter in law, Jennie Lynne (Stamp) King.

Esther’s biggest joys in life were doing things with her family. She loved doing anything outdoors. Esther and her husband each had their own snowmobiles. They loved going up north in Michigan when there was snow on the ground. Being on the water was her passion and she taught her sons to fish. Even at eighty years of age, Esther would get on her pontoon boat and go fishing. She also enjoyed traveling and playing cards. She spent 25 winters at her home in Bradenton, Florida and summers at her home on Long Lake in Coldwater.

Esther will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by two sons, Marlin C. “Butch” King, Jr. of Burr Oak, Michigan, Karl (wife, Janet) King of Edwardsburg, Michigan; four grandchildren, Michelle Wiley of Brighton, Colorado, Sheila Nelson of Burr Oak, Amy (husband, Mike) (King) Higley of Cassopolis, Chad (wife, Kerrylynn) King of Edwardsburg; seven great-grandchildren, Ashlynne Wiley, Nicolette Nelson and Sabrina Nelson, all of Burr Oak, Amanda Higley and Michael Higley, both of Cass and Austin King and Kaylor King, both of Edwardsburg; two sisters, Mildred Hillman of Arizona, Francis Perry of White Pigeon, Michigan; two brothers, Darwin (wife, Trudy) Churchill of Edwardsburg, Ray (wife, Betty) Churchill of Kalamazoo, and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Family and friends will gather Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 for a celebration of Esther’s life from 1 p.m. until time of service at 3 p.m. in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis, with the Reverend Michael Smith officiating.

Mrs. King’s remains will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Marlin C. King, Sr., in Young’s Prairie Cemetery in Cassopolis.

The family prefers contributions be made in Esther’s memory to either, Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 North Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60707, or, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Post Office Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-9908.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.