KING, Martha King Earthman, beloved and devoted mother, grandmother, sister, wife and friend, passed away peacefully on Dec. 14, 2017 in Dallas. She was 78. Born on July 27, 1939, Martha was the daughter of prominent Dallas car salesman Eldon Earthman and his wife, Alta. She graduated from North Dallas High School in 1956 before enrolling at the University of North Texas, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education. Martha then worked for nine years as a teacher at George W. Truett Elementary School before retiring to raise her children with her husband, J.C. King, whom she married in 1961. It's fitting that one of Martha's favorite poems was entitled "Live a Life That Matters," because she embodied that mantra daily. She was warm and elegant. She had a servant's heart and the ability to impact someone's day with a phone call, a song, or a simple smile. In the 1980's and 1990's she was a greeter at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church and, in the 2000's, she led bible studies and worked with children at Ridgewood Park UMC. She left Gatorade and cookies on her porch for landscaping crews and bought Star Wars figures and baseball cards for neighborhood children. She sent birthday cards not just to her children, but to her children's friends and she donated yearly to her church and other charities. An accomplished pianist, Martha had a passion for music not just because of the beautiful sounds and harmonies, but because of the various emotions music can evoke, because of the power it has to excite, energize, soothe and heal. Thus, Martha used her talent as a gift to others. As a volunteer at Dan D. Rogers Elementary, she received standing ovations for the music programs she organized featuring hundreds of first and second graders. Years later she compiled song books and began hosting heavily attended sing-a-longs on Saturday evenings at her church. Less than a year before her passing, Martha still maintained the ability to play her favorite tunes, as Alzheimer's patients at Presbyterian Village North circled around the piano each week and sang as Martha played hymns that brought back memories from times when so much else had been forgotten. Martha is preceded in death by her parents, Eldon and Alta Earthman, and her husband, J.C. King. She is survived by her son, Jason King, his wife, Jennifer and their children, Carson and Kacie; her daughter, Kimberly Bush, her husband Jamie, and their children, Zachary, Kaitlyn and Molly; her sister, Peggy Earthman; and close family friend Davanel Fitzgerald. Visitation is Wednesday from 6-8 at Restland Funeral Home and a memorial service, followed by a reception, will be held Thursday at 11 at the same location. Donations may be made to Ridgewood Park UMC or the Alzheimer's Association of Dallas.