Larry King

Metamora - Larry E. King, 68, of Metamora passed away on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008, while surrounded by family and friends, and went to be with his Lord after a 2 1/2-year courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born on July 16, 1940, in Frederick, Md., to Dorsey and Ruth (Keeney) King. He married his partner and best friend, Laurie Mitchell, on Aug. 9, 1997.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and one brother.

He is survived by his wife; son, Bradley (Jennelle) King of Apex, N.C.; and his stepdaughter, Wendy Orr of Peoria. He is further survived by three brothers, Tom (Jane) King, Jimmy (Doris) King and Marlin (Karen) King, all of Maryland; as well as two sisters, Lois King of Pennsylvania and Eleanor Dewire of Washington State; along with many nieces and nephews. He also was blessed with six grandchildren, Matt, Amanda and Rachel King, Hayley and Holli Caley, and Bajianna Montgomery.

Larry grew up on his family's dairy farm in Frederick, Md. After high school, he joined the Brethren Service. He attended McPherson College in Kansas and later finished his education at ISU and Bradley University, earning degrees in mechanical engineering and botany.

He worked at WABCO until he started his own business in 1972: King and Associates.

He was accomplished at whatever he did, from building homes to race car engines. He was most proud of the car dealerships he designed and built in Peoria; El Paso; Pontiac; Morton; Decatur; Springfield; Taylorville; Blair, Neb.; Elkhart, Ind.; and Radcliff, Ky.

He loved to fish and race his 21 Dodge Viper. He was proud of the track record he set in his class at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in 2006. He loved his shop, where he could fix or make anything. But most of all, he loved his family.

Special thanks to Johnny for being such a faithful friend.

He was the greatest husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend. We will miss him so much.

Through his illness, he grew to love Jesus and became a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Peoria.

Please join us to celebrate his life. Visitation will be on Monday, Dec. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home, Metamora Chapel. The funeral will be at Bethany Baptist Church on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 10:30 a.m., with Pastor Joel Smith and the Rev. Michael Caley officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, Md.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethany Baptist Church Building Fund, Trust in Hope Foundation or Illinois Cancer Care.