Charlene Flowers Morrow King

Charlene was born October 5, 1927 to Hallie E. Clarke Flowers and Charlie Flowers in Gainesville, Texas.  She is the great-great granddaughter of the legendary frontiersman and Alamo hero David Crockett.

Charlene married LT. Douglas E. Morrow June 15, 1943.  They lived in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  This loving union produced two children, Karla “Kandy” Morrow, and Marlon D. Morrow.  In 1945 while LT. Morrow was stationed in England flying P-51 Mustang fighters, Charlene moved back to Gainesville where she decided that she too, could learn to fly.  She took pilot lessons flying the same type of plane Douglas flew and received her pilot’s license, much to the surprise of her mother and husband.  After Douglas was discharged in 1946, they moved to Rogers, Arkansas.  In 1950 Douglas’ National Guard unit was called to active duty for the Korean War.  Sadly, LT. Morrow was killed in action in Korea in 1951 and Charlene moved her young family back to Gainesville.

Charlene married Charles R. King of Cleburne, TX February 5, 1953.  His career landed them in Shreveport, LA.  In 1962 while pregnant with their daughter Tracye King, Charlene was determined to complete her high school education.  She enrolled in the High School Credit Study program and spent 36 weeks completing her high school education.  In 1963 after she received her High School Equivalency Certificate from Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, LA.

Charlene then enrolled in the State of Louisiana Department of Education’s Vocational-Technical School pursuing a career in nursing.  She graduated in 1968, and passed the Louisiana Board of Nurse Examiners’ State Board test with nearly double the minimum passing score as an L.P.N.  Shortly after receiving her nursing license, she began a twenty-five-year career at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Shreveport as a charge nurse, and finished the last 8 years of her time there as the Social Service Designee.  She continued her education at Bossier Parish Community College taking college courses there through the mid -seventies. She then resumed coursework in the spring of 1983 and continued until her move back to Texas.

Charlene and Charles moved back to Texas in 1988.  She received her Texas license as an L.V.N. and took a position with Brentwood Healthcare, Inc.  She became the Training Coordinator for the company and after 2 1/2 years, became a Program Coordinator/Primary Instructor for their facility-based Nurse Aide Training Program.  After four years, Charles and Charlene moved to Lake Kiowa, TX.

In 1994 Charlene accepted a position as a Clinical Instructor in the Vocation Nursing Program at the Gainesville Campus of North Central Texas College.  Her record in this position was nothing less than exemplary.  Every one of her students passed the State Board Examination on the first try!

In 2000, Charlene became a volunteer for Home Hospice of Cooke County.  Her motto about volunteering was “Make a Difference”.  Surely, she made a difference and touched many lives in these organizations where she was a member:  Rebecca Crockett chapter of NSDAR, Member-at Large Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Direct Descendants and Kin of David Crockett, Local AARP Chapter, Red Cross Volunteer, Collinsville Church of Christ, Kiowa Emergency Service Organization, Kiowa Women’s Club, Red Hat Society, and Lake Kiowa Gourmet Club.

In 2019, Charlene moved in with her daughter and son-in-law in Euless, TX.  There she was a member of the neighborhood Bunco group and the Bedford Church of Christ Ladies Bible Study.

Charlene was an excellent seamstress.  She enjoyed dancing, traveling, shopping, decorating tablescapes, listening to Merle Haggard, the Christmas holiday, cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, and being with her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Hallie Flowers, brothers David C. Flowers, Warren G. Flowers and wife Quade Flowers, and Harley G. Flowers; brother-in-law Bobby G. Davis, husbands Douglas E. Morrow and Charles R. King; daughter Dr. Karla “Kandy” Morrow Turner; b friends Marlene Kotarski of Shreveport, Mary Gill and Shirlene Ziegler, both of Lake Kiowa.

Charlene will be truly missed by her son and daughter-in-law Marlon and Cindy Morrow of Lake Kiowa, daughter and son-in-law Tracye King Albone and David Albone of Euless, TX; grandsons Daren Wilson of Austin, Texas, Micheal and WK. Morrow of Lake Kiowa; great granddaughters Sarah and Beth Wilson, and East Rivers of Austin; sister Lila Davis of Lake Kiowa, sister and brother-in law Nancy Flowers Hellman and James Hellma; sister-in law Martha Flowers of N. Little Rock, AR; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Memorials are suggested and can be sent in her memory to Home Hospice of Cooke County, Collinsville Church of Christ, or the Rebecca Crockett Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

A graveside service will be held at the Fairview Cemetery Pavilion Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 11:00 AM with Dr. Scott Sides, Minister of Collinsville Church of Christ, officiating.