Mary Louise King

Mary Louise King, 73, died peacefully in Dallas, Texas last Thursday morning, October 23rd at the age of seventy-three surrounded by her four children. Born and raised in Dyersburg, Tennessee, Mary Louise always considered herself a Southerner at heart and often spoke fondly of her time and memories of the "country" and her family home there. Following her graduation from Dyersburg High School in 1959, Mary Louise spent a year at Randolph-Macon Woman's College before transferring to the University of Mississippi where she double majored in Psychology and English, with honors, and enjoyed her time in Oxford as a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She continued her graduate studies over the next several years to become the first woman to graduate from Ole Miss with a Masters and PhD in Psychology. Following graduate school, she married and moved to Dallas where she raised and educated her four children and worked for twenty-five years serving American Veterans as a clinical psychologist for the VA Hospitals in Dallas and Fort Worth. Religion was a very important part of Mary Louise's life - she was one of the founders of the Chapel of the Cross, a new reformed Episcopal church located on Cole Avenue in Dallas. In addition to being a founding member, she also served on the church's Board of Trustees, tended the church garden, and was a long standing and dedicated member of the Alter Guild. Mary Louise valued the gift of education and loved her family, dogs, reading, and crossword puzzles. She could be indomitable when necessary, but was always polite. She was an avid letter writer and would write thank you notes to everyone - she once sent the CEO of Crate and Barrel a hand written note because she really enjoyed a particular coffee mug. Mary Louise is survived by her brother Edward M King, III of Memphis, Tennessee, his wife Joree, their children Joe and Ed and their grandchildren; her children, Thomas Toland of New York City, his wife Kristin and their children Austin and Leighton; Scott Toland of Washington, DC and his husband Charlie Salem; Edward Toland of Kauai, Hawaii and his wife Isabella; and Monica Roberts of Dallas, her husband Josh and their children Liam and Lucy. A graveside memorial service will be held at Fairview Cemetery on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 11AM. Curry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Rector's Discretionary Fund, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 108 N. King Avenue, Dyersburg, TN 38024 or Wounded Warrior Project through their web site or by mail, National Processing Center, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516. Online condolences are available on our website- www.curryfuneral.com