Ronald "Big Ron" King

Ronald (Big Ron) King, age 61, of Chanute, Kansas passed away on Monday, the 3rd of March 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer. Throughout this battle he never commented or complained about the pain this horrible disease inflicted on him. He was born in Wichita, Kansas, to Rex and Marillyn King and lived most of his life in Chanute, KS, and Houston, TX.

Ron was an incredibly smart and loving man who had a passion for building, construction, trucking, hunting and fishing. His love to build was reflected in his work as co-owner of Palletized Trucking Inc. and Lil Toledo Lodge.

His love for trucking began in 1969 when Rex (his father) founded Palletized Trucking Inc. After deciding to move back to the farm in Kansas, he was able to share his love for hunting and fishing while developing a top notch, professional, well-known hunting lodge. His love for gardening was reflected in the 3 large gardens, which grew a large variety of vegetables.

In the later part of his life, he went back to his roots: trucking. He helped in the design and development of a new trucking division in Kenedy, TX, when the Eagle Ford Shale Play was discovered.

His love for deep-sea fishing led him to another business venture in San Jose, Costa Rica. With his love for building & desire for perfection, he built a fishing boat, as he could not find exactly what he wanted.

Ron (or Ronnie) was a proud father to his only child and daughter, Jessica King. He is also survived by his mother and father, Marillyn and Rex King; his two siblings, Michael Rex King, and Sally King-Shuford; as well as his loving niece, Kolby King-Rodriguez and nephew, Brady Michael King. He also left behind his significant other and great friend, Barbara Busenbarrick, as well as a large extended family in various locations around the US.

The family would like to give special thanks to the doctors who helped Ron fight this nasty disease: Dr. Susan Sponenberg of Kelsey Seybold, Dr. Justo Montalvo of Kelsey Seybold & St. Luke’s Episcopal, Dr. Tejash Patel of Kelsey Seybold & St. Luke’s Episcopal.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 8th of March, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where Dr. Stephen P. Wende, Senior Pastor of First Methodist Church, and Rev. Charles H. Thompson, Associate Pastor of First Methodist Church, are to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests, with gratitude, that memorial contributions in Ronald’s name be directed to, the Non-Small Cell Squamous Lung Cancer Research, c/o M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, P. O. Box 4486, Houston, TX, 77201-4486; TXTA Foundation, 700 E. 11th St., Austin, TX, 78701; St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital Foundation, MSC #900, P.O. Box 4332, Houston, TX, 77210; or to the charity of one’s choice.