Richard King, age 86, of Joplin, Mo., went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at his home, surrounded by his family.
Richard was born on July 29, 1929 in Dodge City, Ks., the son to the late Frank and Esther (Stude) King. He served in the United States Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. He married Ila Dee Hazell on May, 9, 1954 in Branson, Mo., together they raised a family of five children. He worked as a machinist for Cessna, General Dynamics and Eaton, retiring in 1995. They moved to Joplin twenty years ago from Hutchinson, Ks. He was a member of Peace Tabernacle. He enjoyed gardening, reading, and taking long walks.
Richard is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Ila Dee King, Joplin; two sons, John King and his wife Kate, South Port, N.C.; James King and his wife Yong Sun, Chula Vista, Ca.; Three daughters, Shirley Grubbs, Hutchison, Ks., Mary Magazine, Joplin, and Sharon Smith and husband Wayne, Quapaw, Ok.; one sister, Ruth Cramer, Hutchinson, Ks.; eleven grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Frank King; one sister, Phyllis Spicer; and one grandson, Christopher Edwin Lee King.
A Hard Life
He was born in 1929 on a farm in Kansas, graced by a hard life.
He grew up throughout the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, graced by a hard life.
He spent his early teenage years in a rationed country fighting a world war, graced by a hard life.
He served his country as a medic in the Korean War, graced by a hard life.
He met, married and started a family with our mother Ila Dee King in 1954, graced by a hard life.
He worked over 40 years as a machinist in an open window factory, many double shifts to support his family, graced by a hard life.
He farmed his own crops for most of his life, graced by a hard life.
He lovingly raised his children and grandchildren to accept this as a part of growing up, graced by a hard life.
He retired, then spent his summers cutting trees, splitting it for firewood, delivering truckloads to those in need, graced by a hard life.
He read the Holy Bible daily almost his entire life, graced by a hard life.
He accepted and was saved by the Lord Jesus Christ his savior, graced by a hard life.
He came to like and preferred to live accordingly, graced by a hard life.
He most definitely died under the watchful eyes of his God, graced by a hard life.
In the end he had lived a hard life, so that he might find grace.
We love you Dad.
At long last may you rest in peace.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Mason-Woodard Chapel. Pastor Franklin Buchanan, II and Bishop Franklin Buchanan, I. will officiate. The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. Thursday at the mortuary prior to the service.
Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Hutchinson, Ks. Military Honors will be provided by Fort Riley, Kansas Honor Guard. The pallbearers will be Matt Smith, Brent Magazine, Silas Manche, Dustin Grubbs, and Rick Hornbeck.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

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