Mr. James Clifton King, 91, of Belgreen, passed away on Monday, May 21, 2018 at Helen Keller Hospital. He was a member of the Belgreen Church of Christ. He was born on March 23, 1927 in Franklin County to the late Mr. Charlie C. King and the late Mrs. Elizabeth Rickard King. James married Maxine Harris, his highschool sweetheart, on January 25, 1948. Together, he and Maxine raised five children, Pamela Boyles (the late Grady Boyles), Brenda Boyles (Dwight), the late Mark King (Debbie), Deborah Hatton (Kenneth) and Randy King (Luda). Mr. King was the proud grandfather of 17 grandchildren and the proud great-grandfather of 32 great-grandchildren. Including all children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their spouses, Mr. King’s family includes 71 members.
Mr. King served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps from 1945 until 1949. In 1951, he was recalled and gladly provided an additional year of service to his beloved country. After his service, Mr. King worked at TVA as a chemical Operator. Upon his retirement from TVA, Mr. King, an avid trap shooter, hunter and outdoorsman, began teaching hunter safety courses, coaching trap shooters, and mentoring young people at the Franklin County Rustic Youth Camp. In 2007, Mr. King was awarded the “Unsung Hero” Award by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce for his investment in Franklin County and his support of local youth. As a lifelong, professional trap shooter, his personal awards and achievements are too numerous to count. If you asked him about them, he would instead tell you all about the young men and women whom he had the honor of coaching and the awards they earned. He would tell you about the young men who made up the “Bluff Creek Five” and how they won the World Championship in 2004. He would tell you it was his privilege to coach each of these young men.
Visitation for Mr. King will be held tonight from 6 to 8 at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 25 at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Officiating will be Mr. Tom Holly and Mr. Jackie Richardson. Burial will follow in Franklin Memory Gardens, Russellville. Pallbearers include several of the young men Mr. King coached throughout his trap shooting career: John Gregory Batchelor, Eric Loden, Hunter Reed, Caleb Swaim, Logan Taylor and Alex Thompson.
Mr. King is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mrs. Maxine King of Belgreen; daughters, Pamela Boyles, Brenda Boyles and Debbie Hatton; son, Randy King; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by siblings: Betty Turbyfill (the late John), Dorothy Malone (the late John) and Troy King and wife Linda.
His son, Mark King; his grandson, Darius King; and his son-in-law, Grady Boyles, preceded him in death. Two brothers also preceded him, Charlie King and Lee H. King.
The family extends their sincere gratitude to both Dr. Bryan Richards and Dr. Phillip Deen.
Pinkard Funeral Home, Russellville, is directing.
