Lurene Janet King died at the age of 92 having celebrated her birthday just 3 weeks prior in the City of Mission Viejo.  She died Sunday, August 27, 2023 with her devoted family by her side after a long bout with a rare form of breast cancer.

Lurene, or as her family and close friends knew her as "Beez" or "Beezer" was born on August 4, 1931 in Rochester, Minnesota at St. Mary's hospital which ultimately became the Mayo Clinic.  Her parents, Lawrence W. Larson and Jessie Mae Rosenthal had three older daughters, Fern, Betty and Thelma when Lurene was born at the height of the Great Depression.  When she was 8 years old, the family moved to California and settled in the Los Angeles area.  Beez was a "straight A" student in school and adjusted quickly to the California lifestyle.  Her friend "Mickey" introduced her to a handsome policeman recruit and soon after eloped to Yuma, Arizona on August 23, 1948 to marry Lincoln Elliott who was 11 years her senior.  The marriage was a bumpy one with a few separations and they finally divorced in 1963 having one child together, Kristine.

Beez was a dedicated single mom and raised her daughter while living with her parents in the City of Pico Rivera and working for Pacific Bell.  After her father's death in early 1978, she purchased her first home on her own in Corona, California.  In June of that year, her oldest sister Fern died of an accidental death and Beez ultimately married her former brother-in-law, Willard King, a retired Major in the Air Force in November that year.  Beez and Willard enjoyed almost 20 years of marriage until Willard's death in June of 1998.  They travelled and enjoyed a country-club life in Upland, California where they made many friends and were involved in several community activities.  After her retirement from Pacific Bell in 1981, Beez decided to attend nursing school to become a licensed vocational nurse but found the vocation not a good fit even though she was an excellent student.  She was involved with Bible Study, the Assistance League of Upland, the Montclair Mall Walking Club and took up Mountain Clog dancing among other exercise programs.  Beez and Willard were also involved in local politics and were and integral part of her son-in-law Jim Thalman's campaign committee when he ran for Chino Hills City Council and took a run at a State Assembly seat in the 1990's.  She enjoyed watching national politics on cable television, but also wouldn't pass up a good movie or book. She dabbled with piano lessons,  but her favorite hobby was re-arranging furniture.  At the age of 84, Beez moved closer to her daughter Kristine and lived out her last chapter in Laguna Woods, California.

Lurene Janet King (Beez) is survived by her daughter Kristine Thalman of Laguna Beach; two grandchildren, Lawrence Gonzalez of Riverside, California and Jennifer Vaughn of Keller, Texas; and four great-grandchildren, Brianna Gonzalez, 23 , Larry Daniel Gonzalez 21 Garrett James Gonzalez 19 and Robert "RJ" Vaughn, 10.   She is survived by 5 nieces: Pamela Chumbley, Sandra O'neil, Nancy Odgers, Brenda Madsen,  Dawn Whitmore;  and one nephew: Dr Robert J. Stuart.  She had two nephews, Raymond Madsen Jr. and David King who predeceased her.

A service and celebration of life will be held on September 15 at 11:00am at the home of her Grandson Lawrence Gonzalez.  Lurene was a survivor of breast cancer in 1998 and was diagnosed with Metaplastic Breast Cancer in 2022.  In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation is recommended.