King, Jack E.

Services: Have been held.

Mr. Jack E. King, 81, of Portales, died Saturday, May 29, 2004, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.

He was born on April 20, 1923, in Clovis, to Gracie Dell and Luther Eber King.

His family moved from their home north of Clovis to Cedarvale by covered wagon in 1929. He attended school in Cedarvale, near Corona. In 1942, he joined the US Navy, as a communications officer. He retired in 1961 as a Chief Petty Officer. He married Lucille Laquinta on Aug. 18, 1954, in Wahiawa, Hawaii. After his retirement, they made their home in Tularosa, where he farmed and was employed as an administrator for Dyna Electron at Holloman Air Force Base until 1978. While living in Tularosa he was active in the Lion’s Club. In 1984 he moved to Capitan. In 1986 he bought his first race horse. He continued to train race horses for the remainder of his life. They moved to Corona in 1987, and then to Portales in 1991. He was a lifetime member of the Beaverbond American Legion Post in Corona. He attended the First United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jack King (and wife, Wynn) of Ruidoso and Jim King of Portales; two daughters, Judy Kennedy (John) of Vail, Ariz. and Joyce Roulston (Barry) of Stephenville, Texas; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; his step-mother, Leah King of Alamogordo; two brothers, Gerald King of Kent, Wash. and Franklin King of Leander, Texas; and a sister, Billie Pender of Alamogordo.

The Rev. Harry Riser will officiate the services, assisted by various members of Mr. King’s family.

Pallbearers are Justin, Jady and Jacob King, Ty, Ryan and Sara Roulston, Maggie and Claire Kennedy and Sheryl Turner.

A private burial service will be held at Portales Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.