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Mrs. Mary King, manager of the John F. Grant Lumber Company, thinks that being a woman in what is normally thought of as a man’s job has both its advantages and disadvantages.
For one thing, she doesn’t get as many complaints from her male customers. “Evidently the age of chivalry is not dead,” she laughs.
A man may come roaring into the lumber yard and demand belligerently: “Where’s the manager?” When Mrs. King introduces herself as that party, the affect is usually seen on the customer as he remembers his manners.
Mrs. King notes that more women are trading at the lumber company than ever before. She points out that this is an indication of the work around the home being done by the little wife.
In years past, if a woman wanted a spare kitchen shelf, the husband got the job. Now more wives find it easier to turn to and build it themselves rather than talk the husband into the building mood.
Born in Arkansas, Mrs. King came to Palacios with her parents in 1917. She was graduated from Palacios High School in 1931 with 18 other students, one of whom was her sister Ruby.
No sooner were graduation exercises over than the girls packed up and moved to San Francisco where their father’s people were.
In San Francisco Mrs. King attended San Francisco State Teachers College and later a business school.
One year in the “Golden State” was enough for a Gulf Cost resident, however. “It was just too cold out there,” she explains.
A story goes with the fact that Mary and Ruby were graduated in the same class. It seems Ruby was sent to Prairie Center for her first year of schooling. The first day she set out confidently, only to return shortly with the news that the teacher didn’t have enough pupils for a class. All eyes turned to six-year-old Mary—and there was a first grade class next day.
Back in Palacios in 1933 Mrs. King secured her first job. She was secretary to County Commissioner George Harrison.
In 1934 she married B. W. King, who was working with a C. C. C. group at Camp Hulen.
Mrs. King gave up her job and concentrated on raising her family.
Byron Junior is a 21-year-old A. & M. senior. Kay, 20, is Mrs. Norman Wilson and a nursing student at Texas Wesleyan College at Fort Worth. Gale, 18, is a senior at Palacios High School and is drum majorette. Sharon, who is seven, came along after Mrs. King went to work for the Grant Lumber Company and now is in the first year of school.
Mrs. King accepted the job as bookkeeper for the company in 1941. Then, as more and more men left for the armed services, she took over as manager in 1943.
She admits that running both a home and business is rather trying at times. “But the children recognize their responsibilities and pitch in to do their share,” she explains.
Her husband, who runs a service station here, isn’t adverse to frying his own eggs if the occasion arises, Mrs. King laughs.
Despite her two jobs, Mrs. King finds time to be secretary of the Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce, vice-president of the P. T. A., and a M. Y. F. class teacher in the Methodist Church.
And in addition to these avocations, Mrs. King—like her whole family—is a great sports fan.
Mr. King has played softball since 1936, and the family takes in most of the athletic events held in this area.
Mrs. King is probably one of the busiest women in town, but anyone who knows her will testify to the fact that the busier she is, the happier she is.
Palacios Beacon, December 27, 1956 |
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Graveside services for
Byron W. King, 87, of Palacios, were held Aug. 17, 2002 at Palacios
Cemetery with Rev. Andy Blair officiating.
Byron W. King, 87,
of Palacios, TX passed away Thursday, August 15, 2002 at Cititzen’s
Memorial Hospital in Victoria, TX. |
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Mary King, 95, of Palacios, passed away Saturday, December 5, 2009. She was born November 23, 1914 in Arkansas to Guy Johnson and Tenna Hubbard Johnson. She was a lifelong resident of Matagorda County and was a member of the 1st United Methodist Church of Palacios. She was long time manager of Rainbow Land Day Care Center of Palacios, a member of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, was named Woman of the Year in the late 1970’s by the Chamber of Commerce, and was named as an Honorary Graduate of the Year, 70 years after graduating from Palacios High School. She served on the Board of Directors of the 1st United Methodist Church of Palacios and served as leader of the Methodist Youth Fellowship for 10 years.
She is survived by her daughters: Kay Wilson & husband Norman, Gale Selis & husband David all of Lumberton, MS, and Sharon Saha & husband Garry of El Maton, TX; by her son: Byron King, Jr & wife Louise of Prattville, AL; by a sister: Margaret Herman of Austin; and by brothers: Ballard Johnson of Aransas Pass and Mack Johnson of Conroe. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband: Byron King, Sr.; grandson Ricky Wilson; her parents; by a sister: Ruby Chamblee; and by brothers: Winfred, Charlie, George, and Donald Dee Johnson.
Visitation will be held at Palacios Funeral Home from 1 PM to 9 PM Wednesday. Graveside services will be held at 11 AM Thursday, December 10, 2009 at the Palacios Cemetery with Rev. June White officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Garry Saha, Jr., John Saha, Craig King, Daniel Werring, Henry Buffaloe, Frank Mokry, Chris Wilson and Brad Ward. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Palacios.
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