Raymond Auto "Pete" King was the son of Harvey Armer King and his first wife Mary Jane Spicer. Mary passed away when Pete was very young, so he was raised by his stepmother Viola Arney King. Growing up, Pete worked on his family's farm, but later in life worked for the WPA, building roads. His mechanical abilities led to a strong interest in automobiles, making many believe that his middle name, Auto, may have been self-appointed. Regardless, he was handy with an engine. His daughter, Edye, later reminisced about the times when her father would buy an old car, fix it up, and then take the family for a long, Sunday drive. Then he'd sell the car and buy a new one to fix up.
Pete and his family lived in the town of Whitewright for a few years where he was very well known. He was even asked to run for Mayor once, but turned that down and instead moved his family away to Sherman.
Pete had a proclivity for alcohol and was an abusive drunk. After the birth of their third child, his wife Naomi took the kids and filed for divorce. It would come out later that Pete was very controlling and cruel to his family. Naomi believed that their son, Jimmy, was born mentally impaired because of the beating she took while pregnant. Unfortunately, the cruelty did not end with his wife.
After the divorce, Pete moved to Fort Worth where he took up work as a carpenter. In 1962, at the age of 56, Raymond King died of a heart attack in a hotel located at 1514 Houston Street in Fort Worth. This may have been a homeless shelter run by the Union Gospel Mission where it seems he lived for several years. He died drunk and alone, a fitting end for someone who caused so much misery.
As his granddaughter, I do not pen these words lightly. I understand their meaning and what they may do to the legacy of this man. I do not honor him, nor do I respect this relative that I never met. I wish to let everyone, now and for generations to come, know that this man does not deserve to be remembered in a positive light. He is buried at Whitewright cemetery in an unmarked grave, and as far as I am concerned, it will remain unmarked.
For his own sake, I do hope he made good with the Lord before he died.
Pete and his family lived in the town of Whitewright for a few years where he was very well known. He was even asked to run for Mayor once, but turned that down and instead moved his family away to Sherman.
Pete had a proclivity for alcohol and was an abusive drunk. After the birth of their third child, his wife Naomi took the kids and filed for divorce. It would come out later that Pete was very controlling and cruel to his family. Naomi believed that their son, Jimmy, was born mentally impaired because of the beating she took while pregnant. Unfortunately, the cruelty did not end with his wife.
After the divorce, Pete moved to Fort Worth where he took up work as a carpenter. In 1962, at the age of 56, Raymond King died of a heart attack in a hotel located at 1514 Houston Street in Fort Worth. This may have been a homeless shelter run by the Union Gospel Mission where it seems he lived for several years. He died drunk and alone, a fitting end for someone who caused so much misery.
As his granddaughter, I do not pen these words lightly. I understand their meaning and what they may do to the legacy of this man. I do not honor him, nor do I respect this relative that I never met. I wish to let everyone, now and for generations to come, know that this man does not deserve to be remembered in a positive light. He is buried at Whitewright cemetery in an unmarked grave, and as far as I am concerned, it will remain unmarked.
For his own sake, I do hope he made good with the Lord before he died.
Raymond Auto "Pete" King was the son of Harvey Armer King and his first wife Mary Jane Spicer. Mary passed away when Pete was very young, so he was raised by his stepmother Viola Arney King. Growing up, Pete worked on his family's farm, but later in life worked for the WPA, building roads. His mechanical abilities led to a strong interest in automobiles, making many believe that his middle name, Auto, may have been self-appointed. Regardless, he was handy with an engine. His daughter, Edye, later reminisced about the times when her father would buy an old car, fix it up, and then take the family for a long, Sunday drive. Then he'd sell the car and buy a new one to fix up.
Pete and his family lived in the town of Whitewright for a few years where he was very well known. He was even asked to run for Mayor once, but turned that down and instead moved his family away to Sherman.
Pete had a proclivity for alcohol and was an abusive drunk. After the birth of their third child, his wife Naomi took the kids and filed for divorce. It would come out later that Pete was very controlling and cruel to his family. Naomi believed that their son, Jimmy, was born mentally impaired because of the beating she took while pregnant. Unfortunately, the cruelty did not end with his wife.
After the divorce, Pete moved to Fort Worth where he took up work as a carpenter. In 1962, at the age of 56, Raymond King died of a heart attack in a hotel located at 1514 Houston Street in Fort Worth. This may have been a homeless shelter run by the Union Gospel Mission where it seems he lived for several years. He died drunk and alone, a fitting end for someone who caused so much misery.
As his granddaughter, I do not pen these words lightly. I understand their meaning and what they may do to the legacy of this man. I do not honor him, nor do I respect this relative that I never met. I wish to let everyone, now and for generations to come, know that this man does not deserve to be remembered in a positive light. He is buried at Whitewright cemetery in an unmarked grave, and as far as I am concerned, it will remain unmarked.
For his own sake, I do hope he made good with the Lord before he died.
Pete and his family lived in the town of Whitewright for a few years where he was very well known. He was even asked to run for Mayor once, but turned that down and instead moved his family away to Sherman.
Pete had a proclivity for alcohol and was an abusive drunk. After the birth of their third child, his wife Naomi took the kids and filed for divorce. It would come out later that Pete was very controlling and cruel to his family. Naomi believed that their son, Jimmy, was born mentally impaired because of the beating she took while pregnant. Unfortunately, the cruelty did not end with his wife.
After the divorce, Pete moved to Fort Worth where he took up work as a carpenter. In 1962, at the age of 56, Raymond King died of a heart attack in a hotel located at 1514 Houston Street in Fort Worth. This may have been a homeless shelter run by the Union Gospel Mission where it seems he lived for several years. He died drunk and alone, a fitting end for someone who caused so much misery.
As his granddaughter, I do not pen these words lightly. I understand their meaning and what they may do to the legacy of this man. I do not honor him, nor do I respect this relative that I never met. I wish to let everyone, now and for generations to come, know that this man does not deserve to be remembered in a positive light. He is buried at Whitewright cemetery in an unmarked grave, and as far as I am concerned, it will remain unmarked.
For his own sake, I do hope he made good with the Lord before he died.
Inscription
No marker.
Family Members
Parents
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
