Irvin Ray King

Irvin Ray “I. Ray” King, M.D., age 76 of Knoxville passed away early Friday morning, September 25, 2015. He was born on September 14, 1939 in Rutherford, Tennessee. Dr. King received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and his M.D. degree from the University of Tennessee, Memphis. He was proud of his service as a Lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve Medical Corps. He had a private practice in Knoxville for over 30 years and was a renowned pioneer in the medical field performing the first laparoscopic surgery in Knoxville and the first in vitro fertilization in Knoxville, after learning the procedure in England. After leaving Knoxville in 2003 he went on to work in Alabama and retired from his career at Eglin Air Force Base, Ft. Walton Beach, FL. He served as Director of East TN Regional Obstetrical Program; President and Chairman Board of Directors, Maternity Center of East TN; and Clinical Instructor to Assistant Clinical Professor, University of TN Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, TN. Dr. King was a dedicated physician and always put his patients first. He was kind, humble, compassionate and a gentle-spirited man, a loving husband and devoted father and grandfather. If you were fortunate enough to know him you were blessed. He was a great teacher and loved learning. He was an avid pilot in earlier years and loved watching airplanes. He could look in the sky and tell you what kind of plane it was and where it was headed. He also loved studying his genealogy, and he loved to tell stories of his many adventures in life – over and over! He enjoyed spending time with, and cooking for, friends and family. He loved working in the yard and gardening, woodworking, reading, fishing, bird watching, snow skiing, and he loved all of his furry friends at home as well. Dr. King was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell and Myrle King; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa (King) and Tom Smith; brothers, Russell, Harold, Bobby and Jere King; sister, Mildred Lowe. He is survived by his wife, Pamela King; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Teresa King; step-daughter and husband, April and Steven Sharpe; grandchildren, Tyler and Ryan King and Preston, Jackson and Hudson Sharpe; several cousins, nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm at Berry Funeral Home on Chapman Highway on Tuesday, September 29, 2015, with a service to follow at 7:00 pm. Family and friends will meet at Berry Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 10:00 am to go in procession to Greenwood Cemetery for an 11:00 am graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UT Medical Center, The National Kidney Foundation, The American Heart Association, Young-Williams Animal Center, Ijams Nature Center, Raptor Resource Project, or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com.