Juanita Pat King

December 13, 1930 to January 26, 2026

Unlike Moses, who parted the Red Sea, 3-year-old Juanita Maxine Moses parted the Rockies on a train with her mother and stepfather on their way to a new life in San Francisco, CA.

One of the strongest memories the young girl had from that trip throughout her life was when she asked the African American conductor why his skin was burnt.

Her mother, Oma, explained to her that while some people had different color skin, all people were the same inside. Juanita carried this wisdom throughout her life.

Life in San Francisco was much different than it had been in Paonia, CO. With her older sister, Hazel, and older brother, Theodore, she loved going to Playland-At-The-Beach.

The giant slide was her favorite, but she also loved watching "Laughing Sal" share her laugh. Riding the streetcar to the beach from her Western Addition neighborhood was also a memorable experience.

When her stepdad, Robert Ott, enlisted in the Air Force, the family moved to Live Oak, CA, and Robert was stationed at Beale Air Force Base. Young Juanita attended grade school and high school in the small town of 2,000 people.

She became a cheerleader in her junior year and met a young serviceman returning from WWII. Houston Leon Hicks' family was one of the many families that had moved to the Central Valley during the Great Depression.

In late 1947, she gave birth to her first son, Mickey Lyle Hicks. When Houston abandoned her and 2-year-old Mickey, they were embraced by the entire Hicks clan. Ma and Pa Hicks, Uncle Billy and Aunt Clara became extended family for Juanita and her son.

In the early 1950s, Pat, as she became known, met a handsome sailor returning from the Korean War. They were married, and in 1955, her second son, Charles Dana Rogers, was born.

They lived in Live Oak, CA, Marysville, CA, and Yuba City, CA, at various times. But after moving to Lomo Crossing in the small enclave behind Pasquini's Resturant, the couple divorced.

Juanita then worked as a waitress at Andys Drive Inn at Plumas Street and Highway 20 in Yuba City, CA. The two sons looked forward each night to counting the change Pat made in tips and putting the coins in wrappers.

Pat met Milt King while working at Andys and after marrying in 1961, they moved to Lynn Way in Yuba City, CA, and started Milt King Furniture in nearby Linda, CA.

She learned the furniture business with Milt and enjoyed the trips they made to the furniture market in San Francisco, CA.

On the first trip, she forgot to take a coat since it was in the high 90s in the Central Valley and she hadn't anticipated the cold San Francisco summers. Milt took her to I Magnin on Union Square and bought her a cashmere sweater.

On subsequent trips she would purposely forget to take a coat, and off to I Magnin they would go for another cashmere sweater. This became one of her first "funny true stories" she would tell throughout her life.

The two enjoyed dining out in the finest restaurants in the area like the Urez, Vienna Inn and the Lotus Inn and entertaining at home with friends.

It was during this time that friends decided to throw her a surprise birthday party, but failed to designate someone to make sure she got to the party. Not knowing there was party for her, she drove to Reno, NV, with Milt and missed the festivities!

After the couple divorced in the early '70s, Pat surrounded herself with close friends, including Milt.

When Milt died of a heart attack, Pat inherited the business, but after running it for a couple of years, she sold it and semi-retired.

She eventually returned to waitressing at the Bonanza Inn in Yuba City, CA, and later the furniture business, managing Marysville Furniture in the old Montgomery Wards building and then Marysville Bedding in the old Firestone store next door to the State Theater.

For the next several years Pat, by now known as PK, traveled with her gal pals to China, Paris, Mexico, New England, Ft. Bragg, CA, Laguna Beach and Montana.

On a trip to Yellowstone, MT, she was advised not to wander too far from the hotel in the snow in search of a local drinking establishment because there were no taxis in Yellowstone.

After several hours, a young man showed up at the hotel door on a snowmobile with a note for her travel friend Cathie that said, "Bet me there are no taxis in Yellowstone."

The note went on to say that he was a nice guy and she should ride with him to the bar where PK and Cathie's daughter, Natalie, were eating.

When Cathie arrived at the bar, PK and Natalie were dancing and the 10-year-old was wearing the 1930s full-length mink coat that had belonged to PK's mother.

PK had taken the coat on the trip to give to the young girl, who ended up wearing it in the airport on the way home, much to the embarrassment of her mother, because the coat was so big it dragged on the floor.

She still has the coat to this day. It was on this trip that Pat earned the name Auntie Mame.

When her stepfather, Robert, died, PK went to Paonia, CO, with her friend, Cathie, to retrieve his Air Force medals and ashes, but found his home wrapped in yellow caution tape.

It would take more than tape to stop PK. With the help of Robert's neighbors, she broke into a back window and retrieved his medals and ashes. The treasured medals, displayed in a large wooden frame, are now safely with her grandson, Russell Rogers of Chico, CA.

In 1981, PK took Oma to San Francisco, CA, to see her son Mick's photography exhibit. The show was held in a space that was to become a gay bathhouse.

It was a little awkward explaining to Oma what a gay bathhouse was. On that same trip, PK and Oma attended the Gay Parade tea dance held at the Pacific Design Center.

Looking down from the balcony at the 2,000 dancing men Oma remarked that it was surprising that there were so many men and no fights.

PK was very supportive of the LGBTQ community, and attended Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations with Mick and his friends, where she was everyone's Mom and always the life of the party.

In spring 1982, PK and one of Mick's best friends purchased a houseboat and moored it on Lake Oroville. Christened "La Mirage," after the resort in the television series Dynasty, the houseboat became PK's home away from home.

Some of her happiest times were spent on the water with friends new and old. She bought a ski boat so that everyone could ski.

With PK in the driver's seat, her youngest son, Dana, learned to barefoot ski. A tradition of blowing a small wooden train whistle whenever the houseboat cruised under the Bidwell Bar Bridge always delighted the party.

The train whistle now belongs to her 4-year-old great-grandson, Jett Rogers. The passing of Dana, in 2000, and the onset of PK's difficulty walking down the ramp from the lake parking area, ended 10 years of lively entertainment that will be remembered by many friends who stepped foot on LaMirage.

PK remained active in her 90s, traveling to Little River Inn in Ft. Bragg, CA, and to birthday parties for great grandson, Jett, in Chico, CA.

In her later years, she resided on Lynn Way with her son, Mick, who took care of her, and then at the Courtyard Assisted Living Facility in Yuba City, CA, surrounded by her extensive collection of pink flamingos.

She never missed watching a San Francisco 49er game and was a 49er faithful for over 40 years. Despite chronic back pain, she was always ready to go to lunch or dinner and enjoyed playing bingo on Tuesday and Thursday.

In December, PK celebrated her 95th birthday with Mick and a few friends and family. Unknown to them, it would be a final, but fitting, farewell, as PK crossed the rainbow bridge on January 23, 2026.

PK is survived by her grandson, Russell Rogers; granddaughter, Laci Rogers, of Portland, OR; great grandson, Jett Rogers; step granddaughter, Krisi Martinez, of Gridley, CA; and son, Mick Hicks of Yuba City, CA.

A celebration of her life will be held in the spring.