Carl King

Carl was born in Devil Creek, Kentucky in coal mining country of McCreary County. He was the 4th and youngest child of Clayborn King and Mary Waters King. He lost his father at a young age, and his beloved mother, Mary, raised the family on her own.

Carl began his education in a one room schoolhouse. He graduated from McCreary County High school at age 16, the youngest in his class. He attended Cumberland College and worked to pay his way for school. After one semester, time and circumstances led him on another path.

In November of 1951, at the age of 17, Carl enlisted in the United States Navy and boarded his first ship, the USS Bon Homme Richard.

After six years of service, he met Yvonne Janice Seeman of Two Rivers, Wisconsin while serving on the USS Daniel A. Joy. Carl and Yvonne were married in March of 1958. They had four children and raised their family in many cities during multiple tours such as San Diego, San Francisco, Naples, Italy and Washington DC.

Carl continued to advance through all the enlisted ranks. He earned his commission as an officer in 1963-64. He was a proud veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars and continued to be promoted.

Carl earned the following awards and medals during his nearly 39 years of active naval service which he displayed with pride. Personal awards: Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Joint Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2), Combat Action Ribbon, and Good Conduct Medal (3).

Campaign and service medals: Korean Service Medal (3 battle stars), Navy Occupation Service, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Expeditionary Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (3 battle stars), Sea Service Ribbon and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

On Aug 1, 1990, Carl retired as a Captain in the United States Navy with over 38 years of distinguished service.

Carl did not rest in retirement. On day one, he took up learning the game of golf. He even volunteered to mow the grounds at Admiral Baker golf course in San Diego in exchange for practice and tee time.

Impressively, Carl returned to college at that point to fulfill a promise made to his parents. He completed his bachelor’s degree at National University in San Diego utilizing the GI Bill. He came from family of educators, and Carl firmly believed knowledge and continued learning were a key to a good life.

Carl had many passions and hobbies over 89 years. He enjoyed golf, summer family vacations in Wisconsin, and travelled extensively in various RVs. Carl loved being outdoors, so fishing, swimming, and sailing came naturally to him. In later years Carl developed a passion for ancestry and heritage until his passing even writing his memoirs for his grandchildren. He was an avid reader, a good bowler, a card shark, and loved collecting coins. This bears repeating…Carl loved golf.

It was on a weekend golf trip to Henderson that Carl and Yvonne found their Sun City retirement home and moved from California to Nevada in the year 2000.

In Feb 2016, tragedy struck when Carl lost his beloved wife, Yvonne after 58 years. She was laid to rest at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, per her wishes.

Carl was preceded in death by Yvonne, both parents, and all siblings: Rutherford “Buddy” King, Geneva Kidd, Thelma Duvall, and sister Betty Joslin. May God rest their souls.

In late 2017, Carl married Sharilynn Rawls, of Dublin GA. Shari had been a longtime friend of Carl’s family, having first met Carl in 1973 during her own navy service as their paths continued to cross during Naval careers.

Carl is survived by wife Shari, by four children; Carol Craig, Teresa Gann (Ken Keck), Timothy King, and Stephanie Henry, and six grandchildren; Eric Craig, Kyle Craig (Karen Craig), Kellyn Henry, John Gann, Corey King and Amanda King, and nieces, nephews, and other loved ones from coast to coast.

In Carl’s own words:

“The Navy recruiting slogan has always been ‘Join the Navy and see the world’. I have crossed the Equator, International Date Line, and have been initiated from pollywog to shellback (a long-standing naval tradition) and entered the order of Neptune and mysteries of the Golden Dragon and the Far East. My duty assignments have given me exposure to most of the world and cultures of foreign countries, including the Far East; Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Midway, Guam, Okinawa and Midway and the Philippines. In Europe I experienced travel and adventure in England, Sardinia, Greece, Italy, and Sicily.”

“I have been blessed with an abundance of good fortune in life, and relative success, against all odds, for which I am grateful.”

Carl King, Memorial Day 2019, Henderson, NV

Please join us for a Memorial Service/Celebration of Carl's life with Military Honors to be held in the Chapel of Southern Nevada Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Boulder, Nevada on February 21, 2023, at 8:40am. A graveside service will follow as Carl is laid to rest with Yvonne.

“Fair Winds and Following Seas”