July 1, 1949 - November 22, 2020 (age 71)
Crockett, TX
John Ray King, 71, passed away on November 22, 2020 on the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, in Crockett, Texas. John was born on July 1, 1949 in Plainview, Texas to Ray and Betty King. He was the oldest of 15 children (10 boys, 5 girls).
John lived and went to school in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. At elementary school age, John played baseball for 2 years. At high school, John did track, football (9th grade), and wrestling (10th grade). John also lived in Colorado for a short time.
John was a jack-of-all-trades during his lifetime working in a grocery store, as a heavy-equipment operator, master carpenter, a bouncer at a bar, for a construction company, as a truck driver, a U. S. Postal worker, and a linesman doing powerline construction, which was his favorite job!
John was a perfectionist. He believed in doing everything right the first time and doing his very best. And there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix or do.
John was a great cook! He could throw together any combination of food, spices, etc., that he found in a kitchen, and create a great tasting meal!
When John wasn’t working, he liked to go camping, go fishing, ride his Harley, spend time in the mountains, watch old western movies, and play Dominoes.
John loved God! God came first in his life! John felt like God wanted him to fight for Him in the “spiritual war,” so John always wanted to preach the gospel, and wanted his children and others to do the same, in order to spread God’s word and His Kingdom.
John lived a very humble and simple life, and yet there was no material good he wouldn’t give up for someone without and no God-given talent he wouldn’t use to help someone in need. He loved his faith and lived it. And whatever he felt God wanted him to do, he had the courage to do it.
John never liked the word “goodbye” because, he said,” It is just until we talk or see each other again,” so he would say instead, “Love ya! Later.”
John is survived by his 3 sons: Todd (Melinda) King of Aztec, N.Mex., Michael King of Lovelady, Tx., Israel King of Parish, Ark.; his 4 daughters: Tricia (Tobias) Krinsky of Pueblo, Co., Tara King of Aztec, N. Mex., Caitlin King of Houston,Tx. Gwen Murray of California; 9 brothers: Mike (Marie) King of Zapata, Tx., Gary (Verleen) King of Fruitland, N. Mex., David (Patricia) King of Farmington, N. Mex., Kevin (Donna) King of Farmington, N. Mex., James King of La Plata, N. Mex., Chris King of Flora Vista, N. Mex., Brian King of Farmington, N. Mex., Mark (Angie) King of Seminole, Tx., and Nick (Brandi) King of Aztec, N. Mex.; 1 brother-in-law: Larry Anaya; 4 sisters: Sherry Norton of Rio Rancho, N. Mex., Sharla (Robert) Toward of Farmington, N. Mex., Jana (Tim) Cummins of Farmington, N. Mex., and Leslie (Phil) Nagel of Farmington, N. Mex.; and many, many nieces and nephews; 16 grandchildren: Aaron King, Brandon Torres, Tessa (Cedric) Crockett, Erica Kreutzer, Chasity (Thomas) Filiatreau, George Schoolcraft, George Schoolcraft, Patrick Schoolcraft, Anthony Moreno, Antonette Moreno, Freddie (Destiny) Moreno, Raymond Moreno, Kelbie King, Harper King, Kaedon King, John Rogers, Nichole Rogers: 9 Great-grandchildren: Emma Torres, Hope Torres, Jaxtyn Crockett, Lainey Quintana, A’Kiya, Adilynn, Nehemiah Moreno, Carlos Moreno, Genesis Moreno
John is preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Betty King; one sister, Laura Anaya; and one grandson, Tristan Torres
There is no service planned in Texas. There will be a graveside service at Memory Gardens, in Farmington, N. Mex., at a later date.