Millicent King Of Southampton Dies May 6

Millicent Frances Leonora Newschaffer King, known as “Millie” died on May 6 at her home at the North Sea Farm in Southampton, surrounded by her children and her husband of 64 years. She was 87 and the cause of death was cancer.

Mrs. King was born on August 24, 1928, in Southampton, to Karin and Francis Newschaffer. She spent her childhood living in the Sands Point area of Port Washington, graduating from Port Washington High School in 1946. She was a distinguished academic student and was fascinated by airplanes in her childhood.

During World War II, she did her part by being an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. She was also active in theater, photography and sports. Upon graduation from high school she returned to her birthplace as a Class of 1951 student in the then Southampton Nursing School, which was located at the current Southampton Hospital. She went on to a very successful nursing career, working at Southampton Hospital for more than 30 years.

During her children’s formative years, Mrs. King worked as a private duty nurse, working the night shift while her children slept, returning in the morning to get them ready for school. Her children were reminded often by complete strangers of the impact their mother had on their lives as a caring and excellent nurse. After her children were grown, she resumed her career at Southampton Hospital as an intensive care nurse. In her retirement, she remained a staunch patient advocate for all friends, family and those in need, continuing to volunteer at the hospital until illness prevented her from doing so.

Mrs. King was active in the Southampton community, serving on the Southampton School Board for 10 years from 1965 to 1975. During her tenure one of her proudest accomplishments was getting the new high school referendum passed and the school built. She also had the privilege of presenting high school diplomas at graduation to all of her children. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she was active in the Women’s Circle, an ordained Stephen Minister, one of the founders of the parish nurse program, and was an ordained elder. She participated in many community outreach programs and took her medical expertise to undeveloped countries in central and South America. Although suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for many years, she loved the game of golf, playing well into her eighties, dreaming during her illness that she would get well enough to get back out on the links. She was a member of the Sag Harbor Golf Club, for many years where she was the 1995 Ladies Senior Cub Champion.

It was at the nursing school where Mrs. King made many of her lifelong friends. As the nurses took a break, on occasion, from their intense studies, they would head into the Village of Southampton for alternative nourishment and cheer. Low and behold they became friendly with a group of strapping young men known as the “Brewboys,” who were also members of the local championship softball team, The Anchors. Many lasting relationships were made from those two groups and that is where she met the love of her life, Richard E. “Tate” King of Southampton. In 1952, they married and settled in the home at North Sea Farm in Southampton, where they eventually raised their four children, Richard, Karin, Kevin and Kathleen.

Survivors said Mrs. King was a brilliant, caring, humorous, strong person. She always took care of the needs of others and was always available for wise counsel. She loved a good joke and enjoyed the birth of the internet so she could share her jokes with friends. She loved her family most; never missing a birthday or special event in their lives. She commented that one of her favorite accomplishments was that she was able to visit each of her grandchildren at the colleges they attended. There was never a stranger at the King house.

She loved to travel. She and her husband would make lifelong friendships on their travels, always inviting their new friends to visit their farm. They were always taken up on the offer. She was also an accomplished pinochle player, playing with her same group of friends for more than 50 years.

She was a past member of the Sweet Adelines and loved to sing four-part harmony.

When she spoke, you always listened, because she always had something genuine and interesting to say, survivors said. She was known for a steadfast commitment to her profession, as well as for her kindness and abiding sense of caring. Family recalled what she said at her 50th high school reunion: “The most important things in my life are my husband, children, grandchildren and friends. I’m proudest of getting my RN and being able to help others.”

Mrs. King was predeceased by her parents, as well as a sister, Christina, who died in childhood. She is survived by her husband, Richard “Tate”; sons, Richard and wife Robin of Southampton, Kevin and wife Claudette of Virginia; and daughters, Karin Driscoll and husband Paul of Bloomfield, and Kathleen and husband Zvi Friedman of Water Mill; a sister, Cordelia Keegan of Connecticut; eight grandchildren, Christina Fouser and husband Mike of Rochester, Brad King and wife Nancy Sim of Manhattan, Julia King of Greenport, Nate Driscoll and fiancée Kay Cotton, Kara Miller and husband John of Victor, Clark King and Kyle King of Virginia, Justin Friedman of Manhattan; a great-grandchild, Harper Tate Miller; a sister-in-law, Margie King of Pennsylvania; nieces, Caroline Tighe of Connecticut, Robin Hawthorne of Pennsylvania, Peggy Fezza of Water Mill; nephews, Tom King of Rockville Center, Tim King of Pennsylvania, Sean King of Water Mill, Tate King of Pennsylvania, and Colin Keegan of New Hampshire; and many relatives and friends.

Visitation is at Brockett Funeral home in Southampton on Monday, May 9, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and Tuesday, May 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. A funeral service will take place on Wednesday, May 11, at the First Presbyterian Church in Southampton, at 10 a.m. A reception will follow at the North Sea Firehouse on Noyac Road, Southampton.

Memorial donations may be made to any of the following: Dominican Sisters Family Health Service, 103-6 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY 11946; Maureen’s Haven, 28 Lincoln Street, Riverhead NY 11901; Human Resources of the Hamptons, 168 Hill Street Southampton, NY 11968; or the Peconic Land Trust, Box 1776 Southampton, NY 11969.