In Memory
Theron King Life Sketch
Life Sketch - Theron King
Written by Art King.
Delivered by Brenden King at Theron's Memorial Service, April 22, 2017
My brother Theron Jonathan Taylor King was born on December 21, 1997 at Portland Adventist Hospital. In a few days his mother took him home to her tiny, welfare apartment, looked around and said to herself; “I’m not doing this. I’m not raising this child like I was raised, with no father and in poverty.” She called a woman who had befriended her during her pregnancy and said; “I want you to find a family for my baby. I don’t trust these agencies. I have three criteria.”
- I want a Christian Family
- With a stay-at-home Mom
- And LOTS of kids
The friend she called knew my Mom. This friend called my Mom and said; “You are the only family I know!” Mom and Dad had seven children at the time, and were not thinking of adoption. They agonized and prayed, then at 6PM on New Year's Eve they called and said; “We will take him”. Baby Theron arrived at his new home at 9PM that night. He was 9 days old. With three hours to prepare, Dad always said this was long enough to go up into the attic and find the box labeled “zero to nine months - BOY”
Theron instantly became his older sisters’ favorite doll house prop. By the time he was three, it was clear to all his brothers and sisters that if there was fun going on anywhere, Theron was probably in the middle of it. He became the spark of fun and excitement and this continued through all his growing up years. Theron loved outdoor creatures of every kind.
One day Theron decided to stage a “Snake Race”. He coaxed his brother Ian out into the field to help him collect garter snakes. Theron caught the snakes, Ian carried the box. He dumped a box full of snakes in the middle of the driveway and the Race was which snake got to the grass first. This little story exemplifies Theron’s childhood. There was no time for sadness. Every waking moment was a quest for joy.
Snake Races
In 2010 Theron and his family moved to College Place and Theron joined the University Church Pathfinder club. He loved Pathfinders because it was a lot of organized fun with other kids and nature. What could be better than that?
At a young age, Theron shocked his family with his artistic ability. He drew portraits, he drew nature scenes. He took art lessons from Cassie Spangrued and they found a special bond of friendship and of loving art together. Theron won a blue ribbon for his art at the Walla Walla County Fair two years in a row.
Theron also loved music. He enjoyed playing the piano. He also played the baritone and in the last few years had begun teaching himself guitar.
Soon after Theron entered his teen years, his family noticed something new. The always happy boy found himself sometimes experiencing times of deep sadness.
When Theron was 16 he started attending school at Mission Creek, a small school in the wilds of the Washington coast about 50 miles north of Astoria. Theron spent two years at Mission Creek and it was a wonderful experience for him. He joined the Mission Creek family on their annual mission trip to Peru both years. He worked with Youth Rush for two summers. He made a difference for this school community, and they made a difference for him.
This school year Theron attended Mount Ellis Academy in Bozeman, Montana. He had less than 8 months with the Mt. Ellis community, but in that short time he made deep friendships and found many people who loved him.
Theron drove his car home from Mount Ellis Academy on Tuesday, April 11. Two days later, on Thursday afternoon April 13, sometime around 3:40PM, he made an attempt on his life. My Mom and Dad found him a few minutes later, and paramedics restarted his heart, but he never regained consciousness.
Theron’s last four days were spent in the Kadlec Hospital intensive care unit, where he received outstanding care by expert and compassionate people. His parents and siblings were with him all this time. His siblings took turns on overnight vigils so that Theron was never alone, never without family. We each had time to hold his hand, caress his face and tell him how much we loved him.
Theron died just after 10PM on Monday night, April 17. When his life ended, a 15-member transplant team rushed in to save other lives with his kidneys, liver, heart valves, and numerous other tissues
Survivors include grandparents Grover and Betty Rose; parents Art and Ronda King; sisters Elissa, Bethani, Sierra, Hannah, Willa and Rylee; brothers Brenden, Ian, Taylor and Caleb. Preceding him in death were his grandparents Frank and Lauretta King, his sister Elonni Rose King and his birth-mother Molly Ellender.
