Bennie Merle King

Bennie Merle Winstead King, 91, of Lubbock, passed from this life to join her Heavenly father on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at her home. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 West Pecan Street, Coleman, with Rev. John Stanislaw officiating. Burial will be in the Coleman City Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

She was born February 8, 1925 to George C. Winstead and Danie Morris Winstead in Coleman. She lived with her family on a farm east of Coleman in the Coleman Junction Community. She had three older brothers, one younger brother and one who died at the age of nine months. She loved being the only girl and was very proud of her brothers. The worked hard and played harder on that farm. She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior at a very young age. She loved to tell the story of when her brother Roy would spook her horse trying to get it to buck her off. Once they were by their tank and Roy spooked her horse. She fell losing her favorite ring in the process. She got up, dusted herself off, politely threw dirt in Roy's face and ran back to the house. Roy brought her horse back to her and apologized. He eventually found her ring and she forgave him.

On July 26, 1942, Bennie married the love of her life, James Willie King in Rockwood. The celebrated 65 years of marriage. James preceded her in death on April 23, 2007 in Lubbock. James and Bennie were Aggie Alumni and attended Texas A&M together. They loved to travel and attended as many A&M games as possible. She would argue to this very day that A&M was the best university in Texas. She was a very proud Aggie and often tried to persuade the younger generation in her family to attend A&M. Bennie worked for the IRS for 30 years, until her retirement in 1990.

Bennie and James attended First Baptist Church in Lubbock. Bennie always read her Bible, which gave her much comfort. She loved the Lord and his word. Bennie was very active in her church and would often joke that she had outlived all of her older church friends.

Bennie is survived by her nephew, James Roy Winstead and wife, Jody, of Coleman and their daughters, Jolie Blanchard and husband, Andy, of Gatesville, Jenna Winstead of Austin; niece, Lindra Kae Halfmann and husband, Anthony, of Olfen and their children, Brice Faries and wife, Debbie, of Coleman, Benjamin Faries of Abilene, Jessica Wagner and husband, Ryan, of Kaiserslautern, Germany; nephew, Eddie Winstead of Lake Brownwood; nephew, Jerry Winstead and wife, Bonnie and their daughter, Jennifer Hellen and son Colton Smith, all of Longview, nephew Michael Winstead of California, niece, Sheri Adams of Lancaster. She is also survived by many great nieces, great nephews, cousins and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James; her baby brother, Walton; brothers, Roy Anderson Winstead, George Winstead, Louie Earnest Winstead, Henry Winstead and nephew, Robert Winstead.

Pallbearers will be James Winstead, Eddie Winstead, Greg Hancock, Brice Faries, Anthony Halfmann and Simon Martinez.

Visitation with the family will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Stevens Funeral Home.

The family requests that the memorial donations in memory of Bennie be made to the Loaves and Fishes Ministry of Coleman or the Coleman Senior Center.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.livingmemorials.com.