Elery W. King, 95, of Ord, Neb., died on June 16, 2007, at the Valley County Health System Nursing Home in Ord.
He was born on July 1, 1911, in Scotia, Neb., the son of William and Edna (Clapp) King. He graduated from Scotia High School in 1931.
On February 2, 1928, Elery married Iva Stillman in North Loup, Neb. The couple farmed near Scotia and North Loup until 1969.
Elery worked for the Ord School District, the Mobil Oil Station in North Loup, and drove a road grader for Valley County until retirement.
When he gave up farming and moved into town, Elery became a gardener. He also enjoyed creating wooden lawn ornaments and was an avid artist. On his 95th birthday, he gave away 35 of his paintings to the Grandview Assisted Living staff in Ord, where he lived for four years prior to moving to the nursing home earlier this year.
Elery was a 75-year member of the North Loup Seventh Day Baptist Church. He served as a deacon (for 31 years), a Sabbath School teacher, Association president, and a lay pastor (in 1982).
In 2006, the church recognized him for a lifetime of faithful service and gave him an honorary lifetime license to preach as a lay pastor. Occasionally, he filled pulpits in Arcadia, Cotesfield, Scotia, Horace, Elba, and Sargent, Neb.
He also served on the Riverdale School Board for 12 years.
Although he had only one daughter and granddaughter—plus two nieces and a nephew—he was a friend, father, and grandfather to many children. His home was filled with young people, and almost every “PK” (Preacher’s Kid) considered Elery’s house their second home.
Survivors include his daughter, Ardith Keith of Denver, Colo.; one brother, Victor, of North Loup; and one granddaughter. His wife of 62 years, Iva, predeceased him in 2000; and two sisters, Dorothy and Audrey Mae, passed away in their youth.
Funeral services were held on June 21, 2007, at the North Loup SDB Church, with Rev. Christian Mattison officiating. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, North Loup.
