Mary Cunja King
2/21/1923 ~ 3/12/2020
Mary Cunja King died on March 12, 2020, in Raton, New Mexico. She was born on February 21, 1923, the fourth of six children born to Antonia (Krasovec) and Anton Cunja, who emigrated from Austria (now Slovenia) in 1921 to work in the coal mines.
Mary grew up in Sugarite, New Mexico and graduated from Raton High School in 1941. During the war years she worked at Nixon’s Garage in Raton.
She married Fletcher (Buzzy) King on August 27, 1944. Buzzy died in 1991. Also preceding her in death were her parents, her brother Mario Cunja, and sisters Marcella Perkovich and Elizabeth Ferraro.
Surviving her are sisters, Velma Piacentini and Emma Carnevale, both of Trinidad, CO.
Mary’s children are her son, Jerry (Diana Baker) King, Denver, CO; and daughters Linda (Jim) Coursey, Pueblo West, CO; Cynthia (Robert) Scheafer, Raton and Carol (Iley) Barton, Golden CO.
Her grandchildren are Alison (Jamie) Watson, Elizabeth, CO; David (Nicole) Coursey, Clover, SC; Matthew Scheafer, Elizabeth, CO; Jeremy Barton, Golden, CO; Jason (Ila Goldanloo) Barton, Denver, CO; Sandra (Steve) Tanner, Carlsbad, NM; and Brian (Michelle) Barton, Fort Worth, TX. Great grandchildren include Elise, Andrew and Connor Coursey; Nick Harrison; Seth and Mackenzi Tanner; and Briana and Brooklyn Barton.
The family will be holding a private service at this time due to the Coronavirus crisis.
A future date for a celebration of life is pending. The family would like to thank all of the staff at the BeeHive for their loving care of our mother during her stay. Mary would have asked only for prayers upon her death; however any donation to a local Veteran’s organization in her name would be appreciated. The family may be contacted through Yaksich-Long Funeral Home.
