Rooney Family Tree

Anchorage Daily News January 22, 2000

Alaska pioneer John Provolt King, 81, died Jan. 17, 2000, at his home in Palmer. A memorial Mass was at St. Michael's Parish, 423 E. Fireweed Ave., Palmer, with the Rev. Leo Desso officiating.

Mr. King was born Aug. 5, 1918, in Brainerd, Minn., to Kent and Clara (Provolt) King. He came to Alaska with his parents and sister in 1932. They homesteaded in an area now known as Kings Lake and later in Hope. After the death of his father in 1939, Mr. King returned to Seattle to be with his mother. John married Lucille Vinecore on Sept. 11, 1945. Three days later, they were on a steamship headed for Alaska. Mr. King and his wife lived in Seward briefly before moving to Palmer. In 1946, he and his late cousin, Clyde King, established Palmer Concrete Products, which they operated until 1949. Also, he and his mother owned and operated Clara's Variety from 1948 until 1955. In 1951, Mr. King and his wife moved to the Butte area, where they made their home for the next 49 years. Mr. King and his wife were active members of St. Michael's Parish in Palmer and enjoyed church activities. His family recalled: ''John was a hardworking, resourceful and inventive man. Over the years he farmed, raised horses, delivered milk for the Alaska Dairy, did carpentry and worked as pilebuck. He retired from the Piledrivers Local 2520 in 1981. ''In 1964 to 1994, John and Lucille started Mamma's Wood Yard. John designed and built a wood machine that pulled the logs into the machine, cut and split the wood to size, and loaded it into the truck. That machine did everything but stack the wood and deliver it.'' After retiring, the couple traveled extensively and went on cruises. They traveled to several areas of the United States, including several trips to Hawaii, and enjoyed short visits to Arizona during the winter months. The family added that he would be greatly missed.

Mr. King is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lucille of Palmer; children and their spouses, Sandi Allen, Susan and Terry Beal, Evelyn and Greg Ochoa, Ellen and Melton Jones, Kathy and Rick Harrington, Kent and Anne King, and Laura and Tom Shones; 18 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; his sister and brother-in-law, Louise and Lyle Saxton; cousin, June Liebing; and several nieces and nephews. Arrangements were by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.