Roberta Irene King

Roberta "Bobbie" Morrison King, 81, passed away peacefully during her sleep at home in the early morning hours of Dec. 12, 2020 after many years of courageously living with lung disease. Bobbie was born on Sept. 21, 1939 in Atchison, Kansas. She grew up there, the middle child of a loving family, and graduated from Atchison High School in 1957. Bobbie attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where she met Bob, her loyal husband of 60 years. The couple eventually moved to Prairie Village, Kansas in 1966 to raise their two young children. While raising her kids, she continued her education, earning a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Avila University in Kansas City. Bobbie made time to do volunteer work with children during several periods of her life. Her desire to help people displayed itself as she worked as a hospital social worker for 15 years, first in Maryland, then in Florida. Also while living in Florida, Bobbie continued her education, earning a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling at the age of 58. Upon returning to Kansas in 2002 she opened her private practice as a psychotherapist in Topeka, which she slowly retired from in 2019 after helping many people.

Bobbie was a lifelong learner, and enjoyed auditing classes at Washburn University. Her intelligence and curiosity propelled her to always seek new understanding in various subjects and ideologies. She preferred an in-depth conversation to small talk. Words intrigued Bobbie; she found beauty in poems and meaningful quotations. Her home always included plaques of her favorite sayings and framed prints of meaningful poems. Should her child or grandchild utter incorrect grammar, it would be quickly corrected.

Once a person became Bobbie's good friend, she was a loyal friend for life. In fact, she had about ten high school friends who gathered for a trip every year well into their seventies. Bobbie was very honest, a straight shooter. She carried herself as a lady and would not leave the house without being presentable. She valued good manners. Bobbie was always humble, and never wanted to be the center of attention. She was sometimes shy, always brave.

When her two kids were in their early elementary school years, she was the young, pretty, cool mom. She drove a Volkswagen bug and let her kids adorn it with flower stickers, fitting for the late '60s. Bobbie also loved convertibles, and owned a few along the years. If an opportunity arose to ride on the back of a motorcycle, she willingly took the ride. People complimented her on her beautiful red hair, the hair her husband fell in love with a first sight.

Bobbie and Bob enjoyed exploring new places. Together they visited all but three American states, and also traveled to France, England, Canada, Turkey, Republic of Georgia, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and the holy land of Israel. Their trip to Israel was probably her most special.

Bobbie loved pretty views, pretty flowers, and pretty sunsets. She knew the names of most types of trees. She loved the ocean and collecting seashells along the beach. She enjoyed riding around with Bob on their pontoon boat on Lake Sherwood.

Bobbie also enjoyed a good movie. She was even known to sneak her kids (and sometimes her kids' friends) into an R-rated film well before they were seventeen. Art galleries and art fairs pleased Bobbie as she appreciated artistic and creative talent. At one time Bobbie oil painted; she displayed drawing talent as well. She enjoyed listening to music, appreciating a variety of genres from '60s and '70s soft rock to church hymns. Bobbie dabbled on her piano, and in her youth played the flute. She read many books, and participated in a monthly book club. She was a member of Topeka's First Presbyterian Church and a spiritual woman.

Bobbie loved babies and little kids, and they positively responded back to her. Her absolute favorite one, of course, was her one and only grandchild, Parker. She gained a new glow after his birth. Later she delighted in helping out by picking him up at his elementary school and then watching him for a few hours. On her last evening on earth, she held his now 22-year-old hand as he and her loving husband gathered around her bed, celebrating Bob's birthday.

Bobbie was well loved and will be greatly missed.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Dr. Ira and Roberta Morrison, and her brother, Don Morrison. She is survived by her husband, Robert "Bob" King Jr. of the home, her son Todd King of Chiang Mai, Thailand, her daughter Allison King Ade (Cliff) of Colorado Springs, CO, her grandson Parker Erikson of Topeka, KS, her sister Carman Keene of Arvada, CO, her sister-in-law Peggy Griswold (Lynn) of Carefree, AZ, and six nieces and nephews.

A family memorial service will be held later in the spring. She will be buried near her parents' resting place at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Atchison, Kansas. Donations in her memory can be made to Midland Care Hospice in Topeka, Kansas.