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Mrs. Eleanor Irene Hodnett King, 83, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020.  She was a resident of Poplar Creek Senior Care in LaGrange. 

She was born May 17, 1937, in Troup County, to Roy Lane Hodnett and Ruby Jewel Farmer Hodnett.  She graduated from Center High School in 1955, where she met the love of her life and husband of 65 years, Kerry Allen King, who survives her.  They were married in August, 1955.

She held several administrative positions in her early working years, and entered the nursing program at LaGrange College in 1973.  She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1975.  She worked at West Georgia Medical Center for many years, ultimately retiring from her nursing career at Royal Elaine Nursing Home.

Irene was a member of Unity Baptist Church, where she was affectionately known as “the greeter”.  She took that gift of friendliness everywhere she went, never meeting a stranger.  She had an adventurous spirit, was a fun and loving, devoted wife, mother, sister, Meemaw, and friend to many.  She was a caretaker, always concerned for the wellbeing of others. She loved her husband, her children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and lived to make them all happy.

In addition to her husband, Kerry, she is survived by her daughters, Cynthia King Brown (Boley), of LaGrange, Sherri King Vestal (Mark) of Greensboro, North Carolina, son, Rev. Christopher Allen King (Kathy), of Tignall, Georgia, grandchildren, Jason King (Leslie) of LaGrange, Emily Lawrence (Jackson) of Roopville, Georgia, Ben Vestal (Kristdel) of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, Colby Brown (Joanna) of Newnan, Georgia, and Tyler Vestal (Gerica) of Nashville, Tennessee, 6 great-grandchildren, sister, Dorothy Hodnett Morris (Tom) of Macon, Georgia, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family. 

In addition to her parents, Irene was preceded in death by her sister, Nancy Hodnett Smith.

Irene had a special desire to be a part of medical advancement even beyond her earthly days.  A number of years ago she established that her body would be donated to Emory University School of Medicine.  As a result, there will be a memorial service at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Unity Baptist Church, 715 S Greenwood St, LaGrange, Georgia 30240, or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, Virginia  22116-7023.