Jim was born August 2, 1953 in Bloomington, Illinois, to loving parents, Joseph T. and Marjorie Satterfield King. Jim spent his childhood years, along with his two older brothers and sister in Knoxville, Robinson, and Atlanta, IL. Growing up, he played many sports and was a member of the 1969 Babe Ruth League Baseball State Championship team. He graduated from Robinson High School in 1971 where he played varsity football and golf. He attended Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin where he played football and hockey and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in 1976 from the University of Illinois, followed by a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan in 1978. He married Julie Flynn, his high school sweetheart, in 1978. He was an accomplished and respected licensed landscape architect for over 40 years, beginning his career in Atlanta, GA at Laubman-Reed & Associates before moving to Jacksonville, Florida in 1985 to work for BHR engineering firm. In 1992, he started his own landscape architecture business. His design work included golf courses and residential and business properties including work on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ stadium, Memorial Park, and the Kingsbay Navy Base. He was also a certified arborist and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the International Society of Arboriculture.
He had a wide variety of interests including tennis and golf. He was an avid runner, participating for many years in the Gate River Run and several half marathons and 5Ks. He loved outdoor activities including camping, hiking, spelunking, skydiving, and coaching his daughters in softball. He was also a talented painter and enjoyed recreating scenes from his daughters’ travels. His proudest accomplishment was his family and he loved spending time with them and his cherished dogs, Abby and Copper, and cat, Slim. Jim’s kindness, humor, and adventurous spirit enhanced the lives of those who knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife, Julie, of 43 years, his beloved daughters, Lindsey (Hunter), Katy (Jeff), and Caroline (Keith), granddaughter, Raegan, sister, Jean Polley, brothers Joseph “Jay” King and John King, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank his exceptional glioblastoma care team at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, including Dr. Robert Cavaliere, Dr. Eric Sauvageau, Patrick Regis, APRN, and Ashley Davis, RN. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s name to Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center GBM research.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 30th at 1:00 pm with service at 2:00 pm at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel Legacy Lodge located at 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32207.
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