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BORN
1945
DIED
2023
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Joe King Obituary
Our beloved Santa Clause and retired art teacher, Joe Don King's compassion for life and others didn't come to an end with his passing. Joe moved to heaven on April 4, 2023, at the age of 77 after a courageous battle of heart disease, surrounded by his loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.
Joe was born on Sept. 17, 1945, in Conway, Arkansas, a son of the late J.D. and Martha King. He graduated from Alma High School in 1963 and attended the University of Ozarks on a football scholarship. Joe married the love of his life, Deanie King (Howard) on Oct. 15, 1965. After proudly serving his country in the United States Air Force as a staff sergeant, he and his wife opened several service stations throughout the greater Conway area. Joe went on to complete his industrial education degree at the University of Central Arkansas, and his first job teaching was in North Little Rock at Ridge Road. Before his well-deserved retirement, Joe taught in the Greenbrier School District for 23 years and spent three years at Crossroads Alternative Learning Center in Quitman. Joe had pride in his students, and he loved sharing his passion for learning. He was also a 44-year Freemason and a member of the Greenbrier Masonic Lodge 290, where he had served as the Chaplin. He was a member of the Scottish Rite of the 32 Degree of Arkansas.
Joe's greatest treasure in life was his beautiful family. He built his Mallettown home from the ground up to live in fellowship and among God's greatest creations. If you knew Joe, you knew he never met a stranger and he carried a personality that was bigger than life itself. He was a proud husband, dad, and Papa to his "grand-angels" and "great grand-angels". Joe's compassion touched everyone he came across. You could always count on him to make a room laugh with his jokes, smile with his stories, and cheer when he called the hogs. He taught his loved ones what it truly means to be a family and all the blessings that life brings.
Joe is survived by his wife, Deanie; his eldest daughter, Kyndell Rea (Shawn); his son, Russell King (Sissy); his daughter, Katie Redden (Jonathan); his youngest daughter, Linde Wilson (Rusty); his brother, Jim Bill King (Joyce); his niece, Marci Starkey (Kenny); his eldest nephew, Lance King (Tiffany); his youngest nephew, Kyle King (Holly); nine grand-angels, his eldest McKinley Hess (Mason), Hayden King (McKenzie), Drake Schichtl (Shawn), Teal Lovelady (Garrett), Hayley King, Hollis Redden, Tyner Redden, Max Wilson and his youngest Maggie Wilson; and four great grand-angels, his eldest Zoey Hess, Saylor Schichtl, James King and his youngest SJ Schichtl.
The pallbearers will be Curtis Bradley, Cody Bradley, Buddy Wadley, Hayden King, Tyner Redden and Max Wilson.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to any of the following: Arkansas Children's Hospital, Salvation Army, Arkansas Food Bank or The Gideons International.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday April 7, 2023, at Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Greenbrier. The Funeral will be held Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Mallettown Community Church. Although there will be no graveside service, we welcome everyone to a celebration of life at the home of Joe and Deanie.
Online Guestbook available at www.rollerfuneral homes.com/greenbrier.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joe King
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Amanda
October 22, 2023
Mr. King was one of my favorite teachers at Ridge Road. I am so sad to hear of his passing. He made us think out side of the box and I am forever grateful to him for that.
Terri Rowlett
April 8, 2023
This is around 1998. Robin and I were on the PTA at Westside Elementary that year and this is from the school Christmas party that year. The kids absolutely loved this man. Our daughters were in the second grade. This is probably the first year my daughter had her picture taken with Santa. And he was gracious enough to indulge to moms who wanted to be kids again for a moment. When my daughter was in the 7th grade Santa was her art teacher. In 2019 her 3 month old son had his picture taken with Santa. I don´t think there has been a child in Greenbrier who hasn´t been made to feel special in the last 30 years by this man . Joe was one of those special people you are lucky to meet once in your lifetime. He will be missed!
Pete Bennett
April 7, 2023
He was one incredible nice person that will be missed. He is and was an important part of my childhood growing up in Alma. God bless. Much love. Pete Bennett.
Alice
April 7, 2023
A friend to all and loved by all. I will always remember Santa at Fountain of Youth with his love for all especially John.
Jim Knight
April 7, 2023
Jody was one of my earliest friends. We both grew up in Alma and went all through grade school and high school together. He was a football jock and I was a band geek, but we still got along. I remember him standing in what was left of a classroom, helping clean up the morning after the grade school burned down. We even worked construction together one summer but then went our separate ways and didn´t cross paths again until our high school class started having reunions many years later.
My wife Judy came with me to the 25th reunion and was a little anxious because she was a city girl from Washington D.C. and didn´t know a soul from the AHS class of ´63. Thankfully, we got to sit by Jody and Deanie and, by the end of the evening Judy and Deanie were old friends. That´s about all I remember about that reunion - what a fun and gracious couple they were and how kind they were to make a stranger feel welcome.
I saw Jody a few more times at reunions and informal class picnics but I wish I´d kept more in touch. I wish I´d gotten to see him as Santa. I wish I´d stopped on my way through Conway and taken him to lunch sometime.
He was a good man with a big heart and a friend back when we were all growing up and friends were important.
The picture is of my birthday party in either ´56 or´57. Any question as to which one is Jody?
Rest in Peace old friend.
Tim and Terri Rowlett
April 6, 2023
Joe was a great friend and for a while an even greater neighbor. He will be missed.
Wordia Vangilder
April 6, 2023
I am Mackenzie´s grandmother and I only met Papa Joe one time at James birthday party, when he was seated next to me while James opened his gifts, but that was enough for me to see that he was a warm, gentle, outgoing person who loved his family, My thoughts and prayers are with his family as they go through these sad hours. May they find strength in Gods love and comfort in having wonderful memories of Papa Joe.May God bless you.
Kristen Parham
April 6, 2023
Deepest condolences for the family. He was my son´s true Santa and always took time to chat with him when we made our yearly visit. Prayers for you all, and thank you for sharing Mr. King with us.
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