Agnes Cora Elizabeth Clark King

Agnes Cora Elizabeth Clark King, 89, a former long-time resident of Pine Bluff, Ark., passed away on June 6, 2014 in Sandpoint, Idaho. Agnes was born in Ft. Madison, Iowa to Amandus J. and Ruth Hendricks Clark on Nov. 11, 1924. She was raised in Quincy, Ill. and Hannibal, Mo. by her parents and her adoptive father, George H. Clark. Agnes graduated from Hannibal High School in 1942. She joined the telephone company as an operator in Hannibal, then in Chicago, where she also worked for General Electric. She married James C. King in Newport, Ark. on Sept. 15, 1947 and had five children. The couple resided in Chicago and Mt. Prospect, Ill. where Agnes was a stay-at-home mother supporting her children's activities. Moving to run the Sundowner Motel in Caldwell, Idaho in 1966, Mr. and Mrs. King were owners/operators of motels and restaurants in Caldwell and Eugene, Ore. from 1966 to 1968, before purchasing the Pine Bluff Motel and Plantation Embers Restaurant in Pine Bluff in 1969. In Pine Bluff, Mrs. King went on to purchase the Riverport Inn in 1978 and the Holiday Inn in 1980, which later became the Best Western Pines. After selling that property she retired in 2002. She also ran the food service at the Pine Bluff Convention Center from 1992-1996. Mrs. King was a member of the Thursday Musical as well as the Soroptomist Club of Caldwell, Idaho. An avid bridge player, she belonged to the Pine Bluff Duplicate Bridge Club for many years. She also served on the Pine Bluff Advertising and Tourism Commission, was Chairperson of the Pine Bluff Airport Commission, and Campaign Manager for Carolyn Robinson, first female Mayor of Pine Bluff. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles and traveling. First traveling to Cuba in 1931, she visited many countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East, and cities all over the United States. She traveled with the official party to Pine Bluff's Japanese Sister City, Iwai City, in 1989. Agnes was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pine Bluff, serving as choir director there. Her Catholic faith was very important to her and she was an active participant in all the activities of her church. Mrs. King influenced many people in her life as a businesswoman. For many years people knew Agnes through her businesses and her involvement in political and other various business organizations. A visionary who never met a stranger, she worked diligently to improve and support her community. Mrs. King was preceded in death by her brother, Alexander; parents; husband (1973); and son, James C. King, Jr. (1983). She is survived by her four daughters, Diane Leaverton (Jack) of Hope, Idaho, Joan King of Arkansas, Ann King Wittenburg of Joppa, Md., and Susan King Meadors (Andrew) of Little Rock, Ark.; four grandchildren, Roberta M. Hale (Phillip) of North Little Rock, Ally Wittenburg of Los Angeles, Calif., Lauren Wittenburg and Jon Wittenburg of Joppa, Md.; and one great-granddaughter, Skylah J. Hale of North Little Rock. Her Vigil service is June 24, 5 p.m. at Ralph Robinson & Son with a visitation following. Her funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church, June 25th at 10 a.m. with Monsignor John O'Donnell, Father Frank DuPreez and Deacon Noel F. "Bud" Bryant officiating. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Memorial donations are requested to St. Joseph Catholic Church, P.O. Box 7434, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71611, National Alzheimer's Association, 255 N. Michigan Ave., FL 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601, or Luther Park Staff Enhancement Fund, 510 S. Olive, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of Luther Park. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.