Nettie Jean King

Nettie Jean (Redger) Stevens King (1926-2014) Nettie "Jean" King, 88, died Friday, August 22 in Denver. She was born February 23, 1926, the fourth of eight children, to Fred and Ida Koehn Redger in Cimarron, Kansas. She attended local Marion County, KS schools and worked odd jobs for friends and neighbors until her marriage to James Stevens in 1944. In 1951, they moved to Colorado. Shortly thereafter she began work with the Gates Rubber Company and she remained an employee with the company for over 30 years. She also enjoyed bowling with the Gates' Swingin' Girls. Jean was a hard worker and as a child of the Depression-era, she was well-known for her ability to save and invest as well as stretch as far as possible and make wise choices concerning the money she did spend. Nonetheless, she was an extremely generous person. She remembered the days when she and her family had little and was always willing to lend a hand to someone in need, especially if a gift or loan helped someone become self-sufficient. In addition, Jean was kind and slow to anger; she was a quiet person with an easy-going personality. Jean enjoyed spending time with family, fishing and traveling. In 1970 she married Carroll King, and they spent much of their free time on their ranch in southern Colorado. He preceded her in death in 2001. She was also preceded in death by four brothers, and two sisters. One brother, Clarence Redger and wife Linda of Mesa, AZ survive as well as one brother-in-law, another sister-in-law, and 19 nephews and nieces. Visitation and funeral services will be held Monday, Sept 8, at 11 a.m. at Horan & McConaty, 3101 S. Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, CO followed by interment in Ft. Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jean's memory to the Fallen Firefighters Foundation at www.firehero.org