Rene Batty King, age 100, of Burnsville, gained her wings and celebrated Christmas in Heaven on Wednesday, December 25th, 2024. Born in Wakefield, England, she was a daughter of the late Percy and Lois Sellers Batty, as well as the wife of the late Bryan Proffitt King. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Vaughtie King Rice; son, Steven Charles King; sister, Joan Webb; two brothers: Archie and Kenneth Batty; sisters-in-law: Joyce and Cleo Batty, Vaughtie McAllister and Billie Honeycutt; brothers-in-law: Frank Webb, Louis Simpson, Jack McAllister and Robert Honeycutt; and a best friend, Ivelyne Murphy.
Rene grew up in Wakefield, England, and became a member of the Women’s Land Army in England which was a civilian organization that recruited women to work on farms to help increase Britain’s food production during World War II. She met Bryan King in England where he was stationed in the Army/Air Force, fell in love, and later married in 1944. The had their first child, Vaughtie, while in England, then moved to the United States in 1946.
After settling into the United States, she and her husband, Bryan, owned and operated a small store on 19W in the Cane River area. After their store was lost in a fire, she went to work at Glen Raven Mills, then moved from there to Honeywell Microswitch where she retired. After retirement, she went back to work, sewing at several manufacturing facilities. She finally took a job with Carolina Morning Designs in the South Toe area which allowed her to work from home, sewing bamboo pillow cases. She worked until she was in her mid-70’s. She became very involved with the United Methodist Women’s church group, and was a member of Bald Creek United Methodist Church. She enjoyed sewing, reading, and loved flowers. Her family was most important to her, and she loved each one dearly. Rene just recently celebrated her 100th birthday and will be cherished by so many she leaves behind.
Surviving are four granddaughters: Lisa Harrell (Patrick Thomas), Amber King, Amanda King, and Miranda King (J.R.); special granddaughter, Jessica Blankenship; four great-grandchildren: Baylee Johnson, Isabella Hudgins, Aiden King, and AddyAnn King; two sisters and two brothers who reside in England: Shirley Simpson, Lois Lloyd (Terry), Tony Batty (Jo), and Bryan Batty (Dorothy); best friend, Beverly Rice; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins, both in America and England.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at Bald Creek United Methodist Church. Rev. Dr. Keith Haverkamp will officiate. Burial will follow in the Proffitt King Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 until 11 a.m. prior to the services at the church.
The family would like to thank the memory care staff at Yancey House for their love and continued care, as well as the staff of Compassionate Care WNC, and her church family. Memorial donations may be made to Bald Creek United Methodist Church at 42 Pleasant Valley Road, Burnsville, NC 28714, or Compassionate Care WNC at 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714. To send online condolences, please visit our website at www.yanceyfuneralservice.com.
