OKLAHOMA CITY

King, Chester "Clarence," 81, died July 30. Services 10 a.m. Wednesday (Ford, Midwest City).

Published in The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Monday, August 1, 2016, Page 8A.

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Chester Clarence King, Jr., 81, was ushered by angels into Heaven on July 30, 2016, from his residence in Oklahoma City after his brave battle with cancer. Known as Clarence, he was delivered to Chester King, Sr. and Edith Watt King on May 2, 1935, in Maud, OK. Their family continued to be blessed with the additions of daughters, Alice in 1937 and Evelyn in 1940. Clarence graduated from Crooked Oak High School in Oklahoma City in 1953, where he played football and made lifelong friends. He married LaNell Pope, his high school sweetheart, in 1953, and their marriage was blessed with three children, Edith, J.C., and Larry. Clarence loved his family, encouraged everyone and was especially proud of each of his children. Clarence spent his career in the oil-field industry beginning with Phillips Petroleum in Borger, TX. Upon returning to Oklahoma City, he worked at Demco and KF Industries until forming King Manufacturing in Oklahoma City, followed by his current company, King Valve in Del City, OK until his death. In 1976, Clarence married Pat Payne, whom he nicknamed Trish, of Moore, OK, with her two children, Kimberly, known as Kim, age 12, and Jim, age 8, from a previous marriage, and two families became one. Later, Clarence formally adopted Kim and Jim because they loved him and thought of him as their own father and Clarence loved them as his own as well. Clarence enjoyed fishing and hunting as a young boy and passed his love of the outdoors on to his sons, nephews, and grandchildren. Clarence enjoyed the camaraderie of deer camp, and was known to bring the group together over his famous chicken fried steaks and potatoes. A nightly favorite was "burnt bean hot cocoa." He enjoyed taking his grandchildren on long hikes through the Kiamichi mountains and teaching them the finer points of hunting, like how to walk silently through the woods. Clarence used the time to instill in his grandchildren the qualities and character that would allow them to become respectful young men. In addition, Clarence was a fan of John Wayne's movies because of the Western code that good guys would win and bad guys would lose, and enjoyed watching them on TV with family and friends. When the National Finals Rodeo was held in Oklahoma City, he delighted in providing good seating for his family and seeing the excited looks on the faces of family of all ages. Clarence loved the Lord and was a member and worshipped at Countryside Baptist Church in Newalla, OK. until he became too ill to attend. Prior to joining Countryside, he was an active member of In-Faith Baptist Church in Norman, OK, where he worshipped and served as Sunday School Director and Deacon. Clarence was deeply loved by his family and friends and is survived by his wife Pat, of the home with 40 years together; daughter, Edith and husband Charles Hudson, of Midwest City, OK; son, James and wife Sandy, of Oklahoma City, OK; son, Larry and wife Sonya, of Midwest City, OK; daughter, Kimberly, of Oklahoma City, OK; son, Jim and wife Jennifer, of Yukon, OK; sister, Alice Mefford, of Oklahoma City, OK; and brother-in-law, Joel Wellnitz, of Ardmore, OK. In addition, God blessed his family with 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two great-great- grandchildren, three nephews and two nieces as well as numerous great-nephews, great-nieces and cousins. Clarence was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Edith King, in 1987; his sister, Evelyn Hudson, in 1992; his niece, Dana Fox, in 2003; and his sister-in-law, Beverly Wellnitz, in 2006. Our family would like to thank Frontier Hospice for their professional manner and compassionate care as they enabled Clarence to experience a pain free journey to reach his final destination, as well as the comfort and consolation they extended to our family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice. Services will held be on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Ford Funeral Home, Candlewood Chapel, 315 S. Sooner Rd. in Midwest City, OK, with burial at Sunny Lane Cemetery.

Published in The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Tuesday, August 2, 2016, Page 6A.