Tributes

Paula Christine Edmiston King On October 30 at 5:16 AM Paula was taken by melanoma after a battle of over three and a half years. Paula discovered a small spot of melanoma on her arm in March of 2017, and had it removed with every assurance that it was completely gone. But in August of 2018, a lump appeared under her arm and by September, the battle for her life began. She fought with optimism and great strength even as she speculated that the burn pits in Afghanistan led to her disease.Paula was preceded in death by her mother: Patricia Gayle Meeker who died from breast cancer just one year ago, her grandparents: Helen Ann Hoyenga and Paul Ivan Hoyenga as well as Alice Mooney and George Mooney, and Chris Edmiston and Jackie Edmiston.She was loved and supported throughout her life by those who passed before her as well as her surviving parents, William Leslie Edmiston and his wife Doris Janelle Edmiston and her step dad Joseph Meeker. Paula is also survived by her sister Sharon Edmiston Brown, a nurse practitioner who fought round the clock for a week to help Paula manage her pain in her last days. We are eternally grateful for her heroic efforts.Paula said she always wanted to be a mother have lots of kids. She grieved deeply for the three miscarriages she had over her lifetime and looked forward to seeing them in heaven. Her passion throughout her adult life was her devotion and love for her two amazing and precious children, William Ronald Knight and Alysha Michelle Knight. She also had three stepchildren who she loved fiercely. Their names are Zachary Samuel King, Kevin Joseph King and Amanda Knight. She had the great joy of seeing Amanda’s baby Haley for her second birthday in December of last year. She is so proud of all her children and comforted that they are on good roads in their lives. All her children survived her passing.In 2016, she retired and moved to North Carolina to enjoy her passion for horses and for caring for her husband of five years, Dana Paul King and their family. In March of 2017 her dream of having a farm and animals was realized with a 20-acre spread in Statesville NC where she lovingly cared for Dana and the children as well as her 2 horses, 6 goats, 2 sheep, 4 dogs, 4 cats and her flock of chickens. She enjoyed the grape vines and fruit trees that grew on the farm and loved making preserves and wine. Eminently capable, Paula drove the tractor, used the chain saw, installed fences, helped build the horse stalls and made it all look easy!Paula graduated from Dixon High School in Dixon California in 1987. In 1989 she enlisted in the United States Air Force where she served for 20 years, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. After 12 years in security police, Paula attained a BA through American Military University and finished her active duty career as a paralegal. She then spent an additional seven years as a civilian at Andrews AFB MD where she performed clemency and review board duties with distinction.Paula loved to ride horses and began riding shortly after her retirement from the Air Force in 2009. She made her passion for horses a family affair. William often worked around the barn and Alysha enjoyed many years of riding with her mom. The family loved working with horses at Linden Farms and performing at horse shows across Maryland and the DC area. This passion continued into her marriage with Dana, culminating in the purchase of their beloved farm.Paula and Dana met in the Phoenix airport in December of 2014. Paula and Dana both believed that God had set it up since Paula was in the wrong terminal! After their chance lunch together, they spoke for many hours by phone and knew they found something special. The love that blossomed was founded on a shared love for Christ and resulted in their marriage on December 30, 2015. Paula relocated from Maryland to North Carolina and developed strong friendships within Calvary Chapel. Throughout their relationship, she and her husband Dana shared an amazing love that few are blessed to experience in their lifetimes. For this she was grateful.Paula was a woman of faith. She wore a bracelet inscribed with: “Romans 8:28” which says: “we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Paula loved God and her light showed by the sacrifices she made throughout her life – sacrifice to her country, to her children, to her husband, her parents, her sister and her friends. When her cancer first resurfaced, her husband Dana experienced great stress and Paula insisted that he see the doctor. His diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, a disease without any symptoms, resulted in a surgical removal of his cancer that saved his life. In recent months Paula related to a friend that if the only good to come from her melanoma was that her cancer had led to saving her husband’s life, then she could have peace. We pray you will remember her and honor her for her sacrifices and for the love that overflowed from her and blessed us all.Our family is thankful for Paula and for all her friends who willingly sacrificed so much for our country. One blessing that comes from this sacrifice is that close friends are developed across the years and across the world. Paula said that she felt blessed to have known so many incredible friends and to have seen so much in this world though her service time. We also thank the church family that has been there through these last five years sharing in the faith and love that is a reflection of Christ.We welcome all Paula’s friends to share on the website so we can see your photos read your memories of your special times with Paula.A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 5 at Heritage House of Cavin-Cook Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Guisewhite officiating.For those who are unable to attend the service, you may go to the following link for the live stream https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC864hAs96dTRLVVL1la0Qlw/videos?view=2&flow=listIn lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to The Melanoma Research Alliance, https://www.curemelanoma.org/.Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the King family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.

Tributes

Paula Christine King

July 8, 1969 - October 30, 2020