Elaine King
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” – Scott Adams
Art takes courage to produce. A certain strength in one’s self – an urge to push ahead when sometimes it just doesn’t feel right. That’s the thing about Elaine – she was all of those things – courageous, creative, strong, beautiful, bold. And every day that we have the privilege to pass by one of her works of art, be it a painting or needlepoint, we are able to relish in the magic of her talent.
Her art continued into the kitchen with her culinary specialties that included plum pudding and beef stew. Even in her last few months of living at The Girdler House in Beverly, Massachusetts, she could be found giving the kitchen staff pointers on how they could improve their own tried & true recipes – whether they asked for her opinion or not.
Elaine was simply the best party planner. Tables set perfectly, menu on point – you knew that if you were invited for a dinner party to Ken & Elaine’s, it would be amazing. Elaine’s favorite holiday was Christmas – in fact, she had already started planning ahead for this season. Gift wrapping was one of her specialties – every gift wrapped in thick, lovely paper – often times with excess amounts of glitter and ribbon. Our Mimi would send these packages from afar. We looked forward to these precious shipments, which continued to arrive even throughout our adult lives.
An avid reader, Elaine mentioned frequently that she disliked television and that it “rotted your brain”. On a daily basis, she would sit in her favorite upholstered chair and read her newest chapter book. She loved languages and was recently taking Italian lessons in her spare time.
Elaine married the man of her dreams, Kenneth King. Married for 60 years before Ken’s passing, they led a beautiful life filled with travel, golf, art, and theater.
At the age of 91, on November 14th, 2019, Elaine passed away, surrounded by her loving family. She lived a long, blessed life and has finally made her way home to see her beloved Kenny & daughter Pamela. She is survived by her son, Kenneth King Jr., grandson Michael King and his fiancé Lauren Kopec, granddaughter Amber Bazdar and her husband Nenad Bazdar and their three children, Benjamin, Lucas, and Oliver.
We are proud to have Mimi as our grandmother, who made us better and stronger human beings. We will never forget her loving ways. She is truly an inspiration to us all.
Friends and family are welcomed to help celebrate her life on Sunday January 5th at 8:15 am at St. Ann’s Church – 74 Pleasant St, Gloucester, MA 01930. Light refreshments will be served at The Girdler House – 78 Lothrop St, Beverly, MA 01915, immediately following the service.
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I am so deeply grateful for Elaine‘s friendship and love extended to me and to my whole family. She was my mother‘s best friend and she was an inspiration to us all certainly for her love of life and for her amazing optimism even in the face of great difficulty! I shall Miss your beloved Mimi all the days of my life! ❤️
I remember Ken and Elaine partying together and having so much fun,enjoying each others company with our parents, those truly were the days!
We met Elaine ( and Ken) about 50 years ago in Sudbury Ma. There we enjoyed a special friendship for many years. When we moved to Sarasota Fl., Lo and behold we met them again. We were fortunate to share their hospitality, sense of adventure, and friendship thru Ken’s passing and Elaine’s physical but not mental adversity.Thanks for providing this fine tribute to her exceptional life.
We met Elaine ( and Ken) about 50 years ago in Sudbury Ma. There we enjoyed a special friendship for many years. When we moved to Sarasota Fl., Lo and behold we met them again. We were fortunate to share their hospitality, sense of adventure, and friendship thru Ken’s passing and Elaine’s physical but not mental adversity.Thanks for providing this fine tribute to her exceptional life.
We were truly honored to have Elaine King live with us here at the Girdler House in Beverly for the last 10 months of her life. She delighted us with an art exhibit displaying and generously gifting her beautiful work. Always eager to learn & keep an open mind to current events and what she thought as fair and humane was both refreshing and inspiring. “Forever young” was her motto even at the wonderful age of 91!
We have known Elaine for 50 years. First, in Sudbury as members of a swim and tennis club where we enjoyed her friendship, enthusiasm, and love of life. After Elaine and Ken moved to Sarasota, FL and we moved to nearby Venice, we reconnected! Many lunches and shopping trips were enjoyed with her. Elaine was not only extremely talented but a great lady indeed and she will be missed.
Oh my, I sent a Christmas card to Elaine last week and planned on calling as I hadn’t heard from her in a bit. Now I know the sad reason. Elaine was a gift to all who knew her. Full of joy and fun with a bit of sass and always elegant. We painted together years ago back in Rockport and stayed friends for 25 years. I will miss her terribly and send condolences to her family she so loved.
When I didn’t receive one of her very special Christmas cards, I was worried. I was sadden to hear of her passing when I called Girdler House.
She and Kenny were very special people.
I met Ken and Elaine In 1964 when I spent 4 months working the east coast from Maine to Florida as a Cadbury salesman getting valuable experience which greatly helped my career. Ken and Elaine were generous hosts and became best friends. My wife and I had several visits to them in New E and Florida and they to us in England. We also flew to Rome to meet them. One of our best holidays was with them in New Orleans and another when they were our guests at our Ruby Anniversary Dinner Dance at a country club near Warwick England. They spent time with our family and friends and were very popular.
We celebrated our Diamond anni last year with a family cruise to the Med. We sent Elaine an email and a group photo but had no reply. Now we know why. Very sad news.xxx. We send best wishes to Elaine’s family. She was a star.
Elaine was a one-in-a-million inspiring force of great warmth and wit, and with Ken, dearest friends with my parents, Phyllis and Fred Davis of Marblehead. The enjoyed many joyful times together on and off the water. Elaine’s memory will always be associated with an example of exactly how life should be led. Please accept my deepest condolences on behalf of the Davis family.
Denise Jackson & Daneel McKenzie.
We had the privilege of meeting and working with Mrs King fir sometimes in her later years and I say ditto..ditto..ditto to every statements that has been made about this wonderful woman..a woman with Class and dignity. She has inspired us tremendously and we miss her dearly