Audre ‘Tete’ King Passes

Published: November 27, 2015 02:11 pm EST

Audre J. ‘Tete’ King, 68, of Stoneboro, Pa., passed away on Wednesday, November 25 in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, after a brief illness.

Born March 30, 1947, in the former Mercer Cottage Hospital, she was a daughter of Harold M. and G. Maxine Sharp Dunkle. ‘Tete,’ as she was known by all, was a lifelong resident of Stoneboro, graduating in 1966 from Lakeview High School. She became a large part of the community that embraced her warmness and kindness to all she met through her working at various businesses in and about Stoneboro, including several years for Dr. Burke and then becoming the manager of Lakeview Manor for nine years, retiring in 2007.

She loved helping others; whether it was family, friend, or a complete stranger, she had the ability to put people at ease. She became an emergency medical technician in 1976 and went on to become an EMT instructor and then a paramedic, during which time she worked for Lakeview and Rural Metro ambulance services.

She was of the Protestant faith.

She grew up helping her dad with his racehorses and became a trainer and owner of Standardbreds. She and her late husband, Richard, operated King Stables and raced at the Meadows, Northfield, Buffalo and many of the Pennsylvania fairs over the years.

With her involvement in harness racing, she was the race secretary at the Great Stoneboro Fair for many years, as well as for many other local county fairs with harness racing throughout the state. She was a member of the USTA, the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association and the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association.

A lover of animals, King loved taking care of them, especially OWH – her and Richard’s retired Standardbred – along with ‘Donkey’ and various other farm companions. She and her dog ‘Stanley’ became involved in the therapy dog program, and she loved taking him to visit local nursing homes.

She was a member of the Stoneboro Sesquicentennial Planning Committee, Stoneboro Garden and Preservation Society, Red Hat Society and Cochranton Volunteer Fire Department Station 4. She was also a volunteer for Lakeview Area Meals on Wheels.

She was loved by all, always did right by people, and as a pillar of the Lakeview community will be greatly missed for her kindness, knowledge and wisdom.

Her husband, Richard A. King, whom she loved and greatly missed, were married Oct. 30, 1987, and he preceded her in death on March 6, 2013. She is survived by her children, Jody R. (William) McClearn and Jason A. ‘Jay’ Clark (companion Katherine ‘Kate’ Dorn); grandsons, Tyler J. McClearn, Jacob M. Clark and Alex H. Clark; and sisters, Marline I. (Steve) Leghart, Maxine L. (John) Redfoot, Madine R. (Joseph) Wygant, Polly A. (Ronald) Wright and Alexa J. (Mark) Schell; and many loving nieces and nephews, especially great-nephews, Ace and Copelan and a great-niece, Riley, whom she fondly called ‘Ry Ry.’ In addition to her parents and husband, a brother, Harold M. ‘Skip’ Dunkle, preceded her in death.

Calling hours are from 7-9 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 27) and 1-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 28) in Scott A. Black Funeral Home, 99 Franklin St., Stoneboro. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday (Nov. 29) in the funeral home with Pastor Janet Pratt of Methodists United In Faith officiating. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery, Sandy Lake Township.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 100 W. Station Square Drive, Suite 1900, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Audre King.

(USTA)

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