Mevla Davis King

On Wednesday, February 26, the spirit of Melva Davis King departed from this life. She was 94 years old. The Davis family, though of little means, valued education highly. She excelled in school and church assignments. As a senior in high school she was the student body secretary. The next year she enrolled at Utah State University. In her third year at USU, she met Ted King, a rancher's son from Teasdale, Utah. They fell in love and were married on August 8th, 1941, in the Logan, Utah temple. They made plans for further education but the demands of the war required Ted to join the Army. By war's end, they had daughter Teddy Louise and a second due, Kathleen. Ted's father asked Ted to take over the family ranching business, including the ranch on the Fremont River at the foot of towering red ledges and permits on Boulder Mountain. Melva and Ted moved to the ranch in 1946 and by 1954 had added to their family another girl, Janice, and two sons, Forrest and Emmett. Their young married life was terribly hard work for this couple. While Ted raised livestock, tended fields, fixed machinery, diverted water, etc., Melva heated water and cooked on a coal stove, canned food from her garden, baked bread, sewed clothes, and hung laundry while raising five children. They were active in Teasdale’s church and civic matters and loved the other families in Teasdale. Melva was concerned about the education of her children and Ted had interests in the wider world, so they made the decision to move the family to Salt Lake City in 1957. Melva was both Primary President and Relief Society President in following years, including such duties as presiding over cupcake sales and bazaars. Because she loved her Salt Lake home, she was quite reluctant when her husband wanted to move to Hawaii. Ever the supportive wife, Melva agreed to move her family to Hawaii “for two years.” The Hawaii chapter of Melva's life was challenging at first. She decided to finish her bachelor’s degree, so she enrolled in the University of Hawaii and went on to earn a high school teaching credential. She began her fulfilling teaching career in 1965 and taught school for 22 years. In 1966, Ted made another career change and move, this time to Los Angeles, California. Ted and Melva bought a home in west Los Angeles. Here they lived until their retirement when they moved to LaHabra, California. As time passed, they began to travel both on land and by sea. They went around the world and on many trips. It is noteworthy to say they went through the Panama Canal six times (or was it seven?). Through this time, both sons served missions and all children married and began having children, eventually reaching a total of 23 grandchildren. Their children were spread from Hawaii to the east coast, but they had get-togethers in Teasdale. Melva absolutely adored her grandchildren. She was so proud of any and all accomplishments and might have been a tad on the overbearing side when extolling their limitless virtues and strengths. Ted and Melva's final years in LaHabra were happy ones. She became an unstoppable quilter, stitching for family, charity and friends. She loved serving others and often thought up reasons to take food to others or ways to cheer people up. Her love of learning lasted a lifetime and even when she was confined to bed, she read and listened to inspiring talks and books. She is survived by all her children: Teddy Louise Jackson (Andrew) of Pleasanton, California; Kathleen Hallstrom (James) of Kailua, Hawaii; Janice Schiefelbine (Daniel) of San Clemente, California; Forrest D. King (Marsha) of Gilbert, Arizona; and Emmett J. King (Brenda) of Snellville, Georgia. Her 23 grandchildren are scattered all over the U. S. Interment will be in the Teasdale, Utah Cemetery on Saturday, March 8th, with a graveside service at 11 am. In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.