Ilene King, a loving wife, mother, and grandmother met her Savior on July 15, 2017, after a long battle with cancer. Ilene was born in Auburndale, Florida, on Sept. 5, 1924, to Daniel and Lorena Dees. She grew up in Thomasville, Georgia, and graduated from Pensacola High School in 1942. She later attended business school.
Ilene married Robert (Bob) G. King on Jan. 30, 1955, in Tallahassee, Florida, and soon moved to Bushy Park, England, where Bob was stationed with the U.S. Air Force. They resided there for two wonderful years and traveled extensively to various European countries. Ilene and Bob then moved to Decatur, Alabama, and were blessed with a daughter, Kimberly Dawn King, on Jan. 13, 1961.
In 1962 the family moved to Houston, Texas. They were both devout Christians and became members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church until 1992 when they moved back to Decatur, Alabama, and became members of St. John’s Episcopal Church. They then moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 2014 to be closer to their daughter and family.
Ilene was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Edgar Henson; as well as her brother, Howard Vincent Dees, of Decatur, Alabama; and her sister, Brunelle Dees.
She is survived by her husband, Bob, of Memphis, Tennessee; daughter, Kimberly King Brothers and husband, Scot Brothers, of Germantown, Tennessee; and two grandchildren, Kristina Nicole Brothers, of Nashville, Tennessee and Benjamin King Brothers, of Germantown, Tennessee.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all the caregivers at the Heritage at Forest Hill and Casandra Banks from Senior Helpers for their wonderful care for Ilene.
A graveside service will be Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at 3 p.m. at Roselawn Cemetery and Funeral Home in Decatur, Alabama. Donations can be made in Ilene’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
