Martha Dawson King

Martha King, age 95, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died on February 6, 2023. Martha was born in Havana, Cuba on December 13, 1927. She was born to American parents Joseph Francis Dawson and Dorothy Sharman Dawson who both worked for the National City Bank of New York which be-came Citibank. She, her brother Joe and their parents enjoyed the beautiful life found in Havana before Castro came into power. Weekends were spent at Playa de Jaimanitas where families shared a cabana. While living in Havana, there were many revolutions, uprisings and dangerous situations that affected her family’s lives. A bomb was set off near their home, a man was shot and killed in their yard, and her parents were tear gassed at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba. At times the family slept on the floor. Martha is survived by her children and their spouses; Elizabeth King Ettema and Dale Ettema, Kathleen King Minor and Thomas Minor, Helen King Barley and Michael Barley, and Robert King and Susan Mathews King. She is also survived by her grandchildren and partners; Taylor Ettema and Marie Howell Ettema, Claire Ettema Williams and fiancé Joseph Brick, Garrett Minor, Jillian Minor, Kyle Barley and Katie Barley, Bryn Barley Pires and Emanuel Pires, Julia King Reges and Brett Reges, and Kathryn King. Martha is also survived by a new generation of great-grandchildren; Paige Williams, Gene Ettema, Ray Ettema, Avery Barley, and Nile Barley. They were able to meet their great-grandmother at La Vida Llena where Martha resided with her husband James C. King who died in 2011. They moved there in 2005 after having lived in their last home in Albuquerque for 34 years. She cherished her time and memories with nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph F. Dawson and Dorothy Sharman Dawson, and her younger brother Joseph S. Dawson.

After Cuba Martha lived a peripatetic life of exciting events and change of scenery. Her family moved to Santiago, Chile when she was about eight years old, as per her father’s relocation. Her very first two languages were Spanish and English. She later acquired French during her school years as a day student where she was taught by strict French Catholic nuns. Martha was an excellent student and earned many scholastic awards. She had a happy teenage life but in 1939 their family experienced the massive 8. 3 Chilean earthquake. Both she and her father were musically inclined, and she learned how to play the guitar. Her father’s title afforded a cosmopolitan lifestyle with many interesting guests. During WWll, her family entertained the troops in their home. During her youth she traveled to the States to visit American relatives. Martha left South America for Smith College in Northampton, MA when she was 18. She majored in French and briefly taught at a private day school. While at Smith she met James King who was studying at nearby Amherst College. They married in 1949 in New York City. They initially lived in a Quonset hut with their first “babies” … three Siamese cats. After her husband’s doctorate in physics from Yale, they moved to Whippany, New Jersey where Jim worked for Bell Laboratories. They started a family in their new first home where she was part of the Civil Defense team in the neighborhood trooping down the street in her white helmet and armband. She loved talking to her best friend but tied up the telephone’s “party line” on a regular basis. A proud Irish woman, she made sure her children wore shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day. In the early 1960’s the family moved near Allentown, PA. Even though she and Jim were very busy with four children and work life, they always managed to pursue their many interests and instilling the children with a restlessness and curiosity that to this day cannot be abated. In the Pennsylvania days it was all about antiques. Moving day came again in 1965 when Jim was transferred to Sandia Labs in Albuquerque. It was never easy; but it afforded Martha the opportunity to design another house giving her great pleasure. She immediately loved Albuquerque for the bright days and the Sandia mountains that reminded her of the Andes in Chile. But all was not sunny…Christmas card photos were particularly “hair raising” with three young girls to pin curl and a little boy who didn’t care to be dressed up. She loved Albuquerque in the 1960’s and was so sorry to have to move to Livermore, California in 1968. Most of those days were relegated to driving children to and from school and dance classes. But those next three years passed quickly, and Martha and Jim moved back to Albuquerque in 1971. The following years were spent helping her children in the New Mexico Ballet Company and the Albuquerque Civic Light Opera as a mother and dance/theater aficionado. And the addition of a rebuilt player piano in their family room added to the gaiety of many King parties. Besides dreaming about house plans, she enjoyed reading the Physicians’ Desk Reference, true crime books, the daily local newspaper from front to back, cutting out articles to be sent to her children, taking care of her many varied cats, and talking with anyone she ever met. Everyone’s life experience was of interest to her. She was an excel-lent cook and her many recipes have been handed down to her children. One of her favorites was Cuban picadillo. The Funeral Ceremony, Remembrance, and reception will take place at La Vida Llena’s Carter Hall at 1:00pm on Saturday, February 25, 2023. A private Interment will take place at Gate of Heaven on Monday, February 27, 2023. In lieu of flowers please consider the Animal Hu-mane Society, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

Please visit our online guestbook for Martha at www.FrenchFunerals.com.

FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE 505.823.9400 www.frenchfunerals.com