Richard Donald King

Funeral services for Richard Donald King, 74, of Nacogdoches, will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, August 5, 2022, at Laird Funeral Home with Bro Jerry Wilson and Bro. Wesley Benton officiating. Interment will follow at Simpson Campground. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, August, 4, 2022, at Laird Funeral Home. 

Mr. King passed away on August 1, 2022, in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was born on November 21, 1947, in Nacogdoches. 

Richard was born in Nacogdoches, the son of Mary Elizabeth and John Bailey King.  He was the typical young boy who learned the land and loved hunting and fishing.  In 1964 he met and married Diane Brooks and spent the following 57 years together until her passing just 12 short weeks before Richard.  Together, they had 3 children, Michelle, Tommy and Kenneth.  After losing Tommy just one day after he was born, he made sure Michelle and Kenneth were of utmost priority to him.  They lived in Leesville, Louisiana and moved back to Nacogdoches to their forever home and raised their children.    

Richard was a man of his word, honest, loyal and supportive.  He was hardworking and dedicated to whatever he was doing in life.  He spent almost 40 years working at Continental Flange, later CAB, where he eventually retired as shop foreman.  He had many adventures while working as a machinist.  They sent him to South Korea as well as several other locations to help get plants started and for quality control.  He loved his job.  However, upon retirement, he happily spent as much time as he could, doing what he truly enjoyed….being in the woods at the deer lease or in the mountains of Colorado.  Richard had such a great love of the outdoors.  He would take his travel trailer and get up early to drink coffee around the campfire then wander off to his stand for a few hours.  He loved the serenity of being where phones did not work and food was cooked over an open flame.  Richard was also blessed with amazing grandchildren of whom he was so proud.  His greatest joy came when any of them walked through the door.  He would give up anything for them to be happy.  When his oldest grandson was 10, he and Diane adopted him as their own.  He watched as they grew into young adults and loved the wonderful people they became.  Richard, although a man of few words, always gave good advice and tried to teach his son and grandchildren the things that he knew.  He was a talented carpenter and even built an additional room onto their house for he and Diane to enjoy.  Richard was fortunate to also have the blessing of great-grandchildren.  He would simply beam with joy when they were around and had so much fun watching them grow.  He was simple but enjoyed doing things for others. 

He was a proud member of both Swift and Milam Masonic Lodges AF & AM and dedicated himself for many years to Nacogdoches County as a First Responder, Volunteer Firefighter and past Chief for South Nacogdoches Volunteer Fire Department and even volunteered on The Nacogdoches County Mounted Patrol.  Richard will forever be remembered as a man with superior integrity who stood for what he believed in, supported his family, loved without boundaries and made the most of what life handed him.  Although he will be missed deeply, his legacy will live strongly in those who not only follow in his footsteps but strive to be the good man he portrayed his entire life.

Richard is survived by his son, Kenneth King and wife, Angie of Nacogdoches; grandchildren, Christopher King of Copperas Cove, Steven Molanders and wife, Carla of Nacogdoches, Brian Molanders and wife, Michelle; Kaylee Covarrubias and husband, Josh of Nacogdoches, Kolten King of Nacogdoches and Addisen King of Nacogdoches; great grandchildren, Asher, Ayla and Atalie Molanders, Jase & Jaxon Covarrubias as well as Justin, Cason, Bentley, Domanik & Aleigh; brothers, Jerry King and wife, Sherry of Golthwaite and Kenneth Dale King & wife, Susan of Nacogdoches; nieces and nephews, Randle & Belinda Johnson, Nick & Amy King, Crystal & Jason Keene, Ricky & Denny King, Kevin King, Gary & Laura Vann and Bo & Monica Vann.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Diane Brooks King; son, Tommy King; daughter, Michelle Molanders and parents, Bailey and Elizabeth King.

Serving as pallbearers will be Christopher King, Kolten King, Steven Molanders, Josh Covarrubias, David Adams, Cody Claude, and Clifford Rudisill. 

Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Means, Pete Baggett, Mike Vanderbosch, Allen Owen, and Gary Vann.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Donald King, please visit our floral store.