Jacqueline Joan O’Connor King

Jacqueline Joan O’Connor King, a caring mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family and lots of love, on February 25, 2023. Jackie was born on September 7th, 1938 in Omaha, Nebraska, and moved to Phoenix with her family when she was four. Jackie had a passion for reading, old movies, politics, and conquering the New York Times Crossword Puzzles every Wednesday and Sunday. She especially loved tackling the puzzles with her granddaughter Katy, to whom she passed on her love of words, trivia, and pop culture. Jackie was blessed to have Amanda and Alyssa join our family through being their loving Nanny for almost 18 years. They were and continued to be one of the great joys of her life.

Jackie was patient, compassionate, and justice minded, a natural, attentive & soulful caregiver, and was always eager to listen with a discerning ear & tender heart. A deeply devoted mother & grandmother, she made time for it all, from nurturing her sons’ and daughters’, and eventually her grandchildren’s, passions for sports & the arts alike, as team mother in little league, pop warner and boys club, always finding the time to attend important events. As a child, she dreamed of being a ballet dancer, and carried her love & natural talent for the art through her whole life. She cherished her heritage, even taking a trip to Ireland to encounter her O’Connor roots with her sister & best friend, Mary, who she is surely laughing with in heaven right now.

Jackie graduated from Xavier grade school and high school and obtained her Associates Degree in Arts from Phoenix College. Soon after, she married Ed King, in May, 1962.

Preceded in death by her parents Jack and Theresa and sisters Judy, Mary, and Pat.

Survived by her children Kathy (Tom), Steve (Gina), and John (Molly), along with the mother of her grandchildren, Mercedes. She was blessed with six grandchildren, Katy, Rob (Krissy), Justin, Jack, Jake and Sean, a great grandchild, Carter and an honorary great grandchild, Evan. She also loved her ten nieces and nephews, along with her life-long best friend Patty.

A family celebration of life will be held at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 3:00 pm.

We would like to extend a special thanks to Hospice of the Valley for the remarkable care they provided mom throughout her illness. Donations to Hospice are appreciated in lieu of flowers at

https://hov.org/donate/

. Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com.