Warren A. King

Warren A. King, 86, of Las Cruces, NM passed away on Feb 15, 2016, at Good Samaritan Village in Las Cruces. Warren was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and good friend to many wonderful people, he will be missed by all. Warren, born on Sep 27, 1929, in Roswell, NM, was one of seven children, born to Paul and Ella King. He attended high school in Roswell, NM and in July 1947, Warren enlisted in the Navy and entered Active Duty. He served on 3 different Destroyers (USS Agerholm, USS Stickell and USS Bausell) as well as Mine Sweepers during the Korean Conflict from 1947 until 1952. He was honorably discharged in 1952. During his service in the Navy, Warren became close friends with a fellow seaman named Marvin Manning. While back in the states on leave, Marvin was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Capitan N.M. With no leave, nor funds to travel, Warren approached his Executive Officer with his desire to attend Marvin's funeral. His Executive Officer approached the ship's captain with the dilemma. The solution provided by the Captain and the Executive Officer was to send Warren home to NM to represent their vessel at the funeral. While representing their ship and participating in Marvin's funeral, Dad met Marvin's beautiful sister Fern and it was love at first sight. Warren and Fern were married in 1949. Their first child was Kathy, born in 1952, followed by David in 1953, then Brad in 1958, then their youngest, Tammy in 1959. Following his discharge from the Navy in 1952, Warren began his career with El Paso Natural Gas Company in the San Juan Basin in the Four Corners area of New Mexico. Over 33 years, he advanced from entry level positions at San Juan River Plant near Kirtland, NM all the way to Plant Superintendent by the time of his retirement in 1986. Shortly after his retirement from El Paso Natural Gas, Warren and Fern moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, purchased a small pecan farm and built a new home. Warren enjoyed farming and raised pecans right up till the time he entered Good Samaritan Village. Warren was active in his church and was ordained as an Elder at Mesilla Park Community Church. He and Fern loved their Pastor and his family dearly and considered Pastor Dennis Diaz and his wife TJ as family. Warren taught Bible Studies for the Seniors in the church for many years and dearly loved to study and teach God's Word. Warren was never happier than when hunting and fishing and led all of his children into active outdoor sports, camping, hunting and fishing. He loved fishing for trout in Southern Colorado and on the San Juan River in Northwest NM. He was an ardent Mule Deer hunter and helped feed his family for many years by hunting. He was an accomplished knife maker and hand crafted hunting knives for family and friends. He was very mechanically inclined and loved to weld and work on a large variety of farm equipment and vehicles. Warren is survived by the love of his life, his wife Fern, two sons and two daughters, Kathy Glenn of Las Cruces, David King and his wife Brenda of Littleton, CO, Brad King and his wife Chauntell of Cloudcroft, NM, and Tammy Nickell and her husband Ben of Chimney Rock, CO., 6 grandchildren: Mathew King, Marcie King, son and daughter of David and Brenda, Luke King, son of Brad and Chauntell, Mike W. Glenn, David and Michael J. Glenn, sons of Kathy, great-grandson Talon King, son of Mike W Glenn, brother Lloyd King of Wilcox, AZ, and many beloved nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces. He was predeceased by his Father and Mother, Paul and Ella King as well as his brothers Roy King of Roswell, NM, Melvin King of Bandera, TX, and his grandson Travis, son of Brad and Chauntell. The King family is especially grateful to Warren's nephew Baron Donaghe, who faithfully took Fern to visit Warren every day of the last 16 months as well as supporting Fern and Warren in Dr.'s Appointments, errands and wherever needed. He has blessed our family. Warren will be missed by all those whose lives he touched and made brighter with his smile, his stories, his wit, his friendship, his faith, and his love, but his testimony, as well as the family's, is that we will all be together again with him and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A Visitation will take place on Tuesday February 23, 2016, from 5-7 PM, at Mesilla Park Community Church. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 10 am at Mesilla Park Community Church, 3101 S. Main in Las Cruces, NM, followed by a graveside service at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Reception will follow at Mesilla Park Community Church. PDF Printable Version