of Springfield, AR

September 17, 1945 - April 4, 2023

Our beloved Santa Claus and retired art teacher, Joe Don King's compassion for life and others didn't come to an end with his passing. Joe moved to heaven on April 04, 2023 at the age of 77 after a courageous battle of heart disease surrounded by his loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

Joe was born on September 17th, 1945 in Conway Arkansas, a son of the late J.D. and Martha King. He graduated from Alma High School in 1963 and attended the University of Ozarks on a football scholarship. Joe married the love of his life, Deanie King (Howard) on October 15, 1965. After proudly serving his country in the United States Air Force as a staff sergeant, he and his wife opened several service stations throughout the greater Conway area. Joe went on to complete his industrial education degree at the University of Central Arkansas and his first job teaching was in North Little Rock at Ridge Road. Before his well-deserved retirement, Joe taught in the Greenbrier School District for 23 years and spent three years at Crossroads Alternative Learning Center in Quitman. Joe had pride in his students and he loved sharing his passion for learning. He was also a 44-year Freemason and a member of the Greenbrier Masonic Lodge 290, where he had served as the Chaplin. He was a member of the Scottish Rite of the 32 Degree of Arkansas.

Joe's greatest treasure in life was his beautiful family. He built his Mallettown home from the ground up to live in fellowship and among God's greatest creations. If you knew Joe, you knew he never met a stranger and he carried a personality that was bigger than life itself. He was a proud husband, dad and Papa to his ''grand-angels'' and ''great grand-angels''. Joe's compassion touched everyone he came across. You could always count on him to make a room laugh with his jokes, smile with his stories and cheer when he called the hogs. He taught his loved ones what it truly means to be a family and all the blessings that life brings.

Joe is survived by his wife, Deanie; his eldest daughter, Kyndell Rea (Shawn); his son, Russell King (Sissy); his daughter, Katie Redden (Jonathan); his youngest daughter, Linde Wilson (Rusty); his brother, Jim Bill King (Joyce); his niece, Marci Starkey (Kenny); his eldest nephew, Lance King (Tiffany) and his youngest nephew, Kyle King (Holly); and 9 grand-angels, his eldest, McKinley Hess (Mason), Hayden King (Mackenzie), Drake Schichtl (Shawn), Teal Lovelady (Garrett), Hayley King, Hollis Redden, Tyner Redden, Max Wilson and his youngest, Maggie Wilson and 4 great-grand-angels, his eldest, Zoey Hess, Saylor Schichtl, James King and his youngest, SJ Schichtl.

The Pallbearers will be Curtis Bradley, Cody Bradley, Buddy Wadley, Hayden King, Tyner Redden and Max Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to any of the following: Arkansas Children's Hospital, Salvation Army, Arkansas Food Bank or The Gideon's International.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00pm Friday, April 7, 2023 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Greenbrier.

The funeral will be held Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 10:00am at Mallettown Community Church.
Although there will be no graveside service, we welcome everyone to a celebration of life at the home of Joe and Deanie.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-McNutt Funeral Home
115 South Broadview
Greenbrier, AR  72058
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com