Wanda Fae King

Wanda Fae King was the fifth of eight children born to Frank and Maggie (Wilson) Ratliff. She was born April 4, 1932, nine miles south of Fort Cobb, OK. She passed from this life at the age of 92 on July 8, 2024 at her home in Yukon, OK after battling cancer.

Wanda lived through many changes and progress in her lifetime. She saw the beginning of the space age, the introduction of electricity and automobiles, the changes in the telephone, television, rocket ships and computers. Wanda started her education in an eight-room school (South Pioneer) south of Fort Cobb, OK. In the middle of the year, her family moved to Big Cabin, OK. At the age of 9 years old, Wanda accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized with her four older sisters at the First Baptist Church in Vinita, OK. When she was in the 5th grade, her family moved back from Fort Cobb and lived on a dairy farm. Wanda loved school and was active in FHA, Glee Club and basketball. When she was a Jr. in high school, a new brick gym was built, and she played in the very first basketball game that was played in that gym. It really hurt her when she heard it called "the old gym".

Wanda and her sister, Frankie, sang duets all over Caddo County. One of the frequent requests was "Ragtime Cowboy Joe".  After graduating Fort Cobb High School in 1950, she attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha. She started out as a music major but changed her major to Vocational Home Economics her sophomore year. She graduated in January 1954 and finished the school year teaching Home Economics in Binger, OK. In the fall of 1954 she moved to Sayre, OK to teach. While living in Sayre, she met and fell head over heels in love with Vayden King. They were married June 2, 1956 and were blessed with five children, starting in Sayre with Jackie Sue. They moved to Weatherford where Vayden finished school and Brent Ray was born. They then moved to Oklahoma City where Brenda Kay and Carol Lea were born. In 1962 the family moved to Yukon where Kellie Jean came along. Wanda was an active member of the Yukon First Baptist Church but, more than anything, she loved the Lord with all her heart and tried to serve Him her entire life. She loved her family, music, chocolate, hugs, baking, sewing, and a good cup of black coffee. She seldom missed the Lawrence Welk Show and the Thunder Basketball games. She spent countless hours volunteering in many capacities: her church, library, and hospital to name a few.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Vayden; sisters, Cathryn Ratliff, Lavina Jones, Mary Jean Easterling, Frankie Conrad and Lanora Whaley; her dear brother, Tom Ratliff and one son-in-law, Tim Palone. Left to cherish her memory are; one son, Brent King and wife Dela; four daughters:  Jackie Burnett and husband Jim, Brenda Palone, Carol Hill and Kellie Webb and husband Al; twelve grandchildren:  Tiffany Murray (Chris), Damon King (Nicole), James Burnett (Amanda), Stephanie Hill, Jessica Burnett, Miranda Edwards (Blake), Jeff Burnett (Cindy), Jonathan Palone, Hunter Webb (Haley), Leah Palone, Zachary Palone and Price Webb; 14 great-grandchildren:  Ava Burnett, James Burnett, Anna Burnett, Charles Burnett, Benjamin Edwards, McCoy Edwards, Brayden King, Emily King, Harrison Murray, Eddison Murray, Dachota Hill, Dallas Hill, Dalton Hill and Jessie Palone, along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Special appreciation to Suncrest Hospice for the excellent care and love our mother received during her final days.

Visitation will be held at Yanda & Son Funeral Home, Friday, July 12, 2024 from 4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Funeral service will be held at Yukon First Baptist Church, Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. with burial at 4:30 P.M, at Oak Grove Cemetery, Fort Cobb, OK.