Skanewati, nee David Vernon King

Born: June 4, 1959 Died: June 4, 2011

David passed away peacefully on his 52th birthday at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona of complications from his heart defect. He was surrounded by family and a close circle of friends and many of the doctors and staff that have cared for him over the last 5 years. As many of you know, Dave was born with a heart defect that affected many aspects of his life that so many of us take for granted; such as, his blue lips, be able to run and play and participate in school activities. But through all of his life he was supported lovingly by his parents and siblings, and aunties, as well as the numerous nurses that attended him during his treatments. Since most of them were women, needless to say - he was always surrounded by the ladies! The family always teased him about that. He married Stephanie Burke in 1988 and they have 3 beautiful children. Even with this disability he was able to get his GED then go on to Trent University studying Native Studies and Graphic Arts. He worked in Ahkwesasne for the Travelling College as a presenter and also as a Graphic Artist at the Indian Time newspaper; Coordinator for the Cradleboard Curriculum at the Freedom School; and one year after major open heart surgery in 1977 he went to work IRON – that’s right – he did iron work, following what many of the community’s men & his brother Francis had done for decades.

After being released from the hospital in Toronto in 2002, even though he was very sick, he chose to go home to work with the members of Traditional Medicine which he has always said helped him to get better and even the doctors at Mayo Clinic give credit to his use of Traditional Medicine which helped to prolong his life. Four months after leaving Toronto he met his wife Lizz in February 2003 on a Powwow Cruise during the a Valentine’s Day weekend. He moved to Rhode Island in the summer of 2003, then moved to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 2004 where they were married on February 17, 2005. He worked for three years at The Plimoth Plantation, a Living History Museum as Artifact Collections Manager and History Interpreter. He missed many days of work due to his health, and had two hospital stays at the Deaconess Hospital in Boston, MA for Congestive Heart Failure. His heart care was watched very carefully by specialists at the Boston Children’s Hospital. In July, 2006, Dave & Lizz moved to Phoenix, Arizona for warmer weather. There he worked for an office warehousing company, and after another open heart surgery in 2007, he worked for Circle K Convenience store as a cashier until March of 2010 when he contacted pneumonia and was unable to return to work. But the big reason for moving to Arizona was to become a patient at the Adult Congenital Heart Clinic of the Mayo Clinic in order to prepare for another open heart surgery and Heart/Liver Transplantation which are the only cures for his particular heart defect. Unfortunately, he passed over before he was able to receive these organs. He would say, “my first care was done at Montreal Children’s Hospital and my last care is done at Mayo Clinic Hospital – MCH to MCH”, another full circle in his life.

He is survived by his beloved wife Elizabeth (Covel) and his 3 children, Elisha, Clayton and Jonathan. He was predeceased by a sister Patricia (Patsy), father John Mose King and mother Anne Elizabeth David. He is survived by seven sisters and three brothers, Julia (Don) McKeel, Charlotte King, Margaret King, Francis King, Susan (Dave) Rourke, Robert King, Ellison (Joe) Snyder, Cheryl (Dan) Bruyere, Kevin (Sheila) King, and Cecelia (Ceely)King (Randy); his paternal aunts: Annie King and Mary (King) Mattice and his maternal aunts: Ruth Hill, Helen Pero, Sarah Rockwell and Winifred Cerra, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, his former wife and mother of their children, Stephanie Burke of Cornwall, Ontario. As well as his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Covel Baker of Bristol, RI.

It is with regret that we respectfully ask for the community to keep the family in their thoughts as we continue the process of making funeral arrangements. His wife intends to bring home his remains for a memorial service at the Homemakers Center in Snye, as soon as all is legally completed in Arizona. At that time the family in Akwesasne will be advised of a final date and time for this service. We thank you for your patience as preparations are being made.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Adult Congenital Heart Association at http://www.achaheart.org in David’s name. Cards can be mailed to 14460-B N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills, AZ 85268. Cards of condolence can be left with the family.

The final time and date for services in Ahkwesasne will be announced on CKON, as soon as information can be confirmed.

There will be a final memorial service in Phoenix where Lizz  will return with his ashes as he requested that they be spread at his favorite  spot in Sedona.