Callie "Joyce" King

Callie “Joyce” King, 96, of Orion, IL, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf.

There will be a Graveside service and a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date. Esterdahl Mortuary and Crematory, Ltd., Orion are assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to Beulah Presbyterian Church, Coal Valley.

Joyce was born on June 28, 1929, in Perry, Missouri, the daughter of Harry O. and Vera O. (Prewitt) McCarty. She married Gerald J. Leffler in Rock Island, IL on February 21, 1946; he preceded her in death on April 10, 1968. Joyce later married Arthur A. King at the Beulah Presbyterian Church in Coal Valley, IL, on August 5, 1972; he preceded her in death on October 12, 1987.

In her younger years, she worked as a secretary and later as a business manager for 9 years at the Rock Island County Fair, for a total of 30 years at the fair. She then worked at the Schneider Drug Store in Rock Island, IL for 44 years until 1992. Joyce also worked as a clerk at Something Special at Southpark Mall, and later at the Orion Family Pharmacy for 10 years. Joyce finally retired in 2020. She was a member of the Beulah Presbyterian Church in Coal Valley. Joyce loved reading, traveling, and especially spending time with her friends and family.

Survivors include her daughter Linda (Michael) Ketner of Scottsdale, AZ; son, Gary Leffler of Eureka, MT; step-daughters, Diane (David) Lestor of Orion, IL and Debra (Roger) Nightingale of Bettendorf, IA; step-sons, Steve King of Marshalltown, IA, and Mike (Karen) King of Andalusia, IL; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; daughter, Suzanne Allen; sister, Mary DeWitte; son-in-law, Roger Allen.

The family would like to give a special thank you to her caregiver, Shauna Dillbeck.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.