Vickie James King

Vickie Jo James King passed away on May 12, 2026, just one week shy of her 71st birthday. She was born on May 19, 1955, in Dallas, Texas, and she lived a life marked by quiet strength, deep faith, and an unwavering belief that every ordinary day was worth celebrating.

Vickie's children ruled her world, and being "Grammy" was perhaps her favorite title of all. Between her own sons, stepchildren, and the grandchildren who followed, she was constantly involved in baseball/soccer/football/t-ball games, cheerleading, dance recitals and family dinners. There was not a birthday that went uncelebrated without a call, card or special meal; even when her first stroke took her speech, her memory never wavered as she continued this tradition. As the youngest of her siblings, and with an older sister who started a family early, she had a lifelong gift for moving seamlessly between generations as the playful aunt, devoted sister, steady mother or silly grandmother.

She was a proud Baylor Bear, as were many of her siblings, however her sons and daughters-in-law (Aggies and a Horned Frog) tolerated her penchant for green and gold. After graduation, she built her career supporting attorneys, some of whom became more like family. Alongside her late husband, Jerry, she also helped run the business they built together; a partnership in work as much as in life. And it needs to be said that Christmas was their season — the over-the-top decorations, the gathering of friends and family continued even after his death.

Vickie was rarely still, she loved to tinker. She loved to garden, scrapbook, and craft; even attending a yearly craft fair with the women of her family where she was just as often having a glass of wine with the kid generation as she was enjoying time with the sister generation and many times both.

Vickie's life was not without hardship. She survived two battles with cancer and a serious stroke a year and a half ago, working tirelessly through her recovery with the same quiet determination she brought to everything. When the second stroke came, her family found comfort in knowing her deep faith in Christ would lead her home. She knew better than most how short life could be, and she chose, again and again, to greet it with optimism.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry King; her parents, Al Gene James and Rozelle Ownbey James; and her brother-in-law, Jim Townsend.

She is survived by her sons, Derek and Emily Bennett, and their daughter, Ellyson; Nick and Kristi Bennett, and their children, Riley and Owen; her stepchildren, Alicia and Jason Davidson, and their children, Cadyn, Ty, and Maveryk; Heather and Cavan Chuan, and their children, Kyle and Kaylee; and Jerry and Michelle King, and their children, Tara, Gracelynn, and Zayden. She is also survived by her siblings, Nina Townsend; Joan and Jim Alexander; and Rick and Alice James; and 31 beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and great-grand-nephews.

A visitation will be held Thursday, May 21 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wade Funeral Home in Arlington. A Celebration of Life will follow on Friday, May 22 at 11:00 a.m. at Joe T. Garcia's in Fort Worth — one of her favorite places. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Vickie's name to Allies in Youth Development, an organization that walks alongside orphaned children around the world, pointing them toward hope, purpose, and Christ.

She will be deeply missed and beautifully remembered.