James Leon King

Funeral services for Leon will be held 11:00 A.M., Thursday, May 21, 2020, at Lane Prairie Baptist Church, Joshua Texas with Jerry Clements officiating. Burial will be at New Salem Cemetery in Kodak Tennessee on Sunday, May 24, 2020. Visitation will be 6-8:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Lane Prairie Baptist Church Mission Fund.

He was born on March 4, 1945 in Knoxville, Tennessee to Anna May and Harmon “Buss” King.

Leon grew up in the hills of Tennessee and as any normal boy growing up in the 40 and 50’s, he helped his big brother build forts, play in the woods, “steal” or borrow apples from neighbors apple tree, helping repair old cars. One of Leon’s favorite times growing up was going to the race tracks and watching all the races, whether it be funny cars, dirt bikes or Nascar racing itself. Many times He would be seen tagging along with his Bubba sneaking in the back side of the local dirt track to watch for hours and hours, only to be reprimanded by his Momma when they got back home. Leon would always be seen riding his bike from one neighbor to the other.

After his Momma passed away, he was relocated to Texas to live with his Bubba as his care giver who until his death remained Ralph’s side kick.

Leon was always “Special” to everyone and would win your heart by his sweet tender spirit and Huge Hugs. Don’t be fooled Leon was as sharp as a tack in some areas and could see a missing nut or a missing bolt on the ground from a mile away while helping Bubba with “any repair work”.

One of Leon’s favorite memories was when the family was on vacation back in Tennessee. One of his distant friends let him not only Ride the Big Rig Truck but HONK the ever so loud horn. You could see him grinning into the next county.

Leon knew the Lord as his personal Savor and was always smiling and never complaining about life even though he had numerous challenges to overcome. Unless he ran out of milk or Blue Bell Ice Cream.

Leon will miss his Church family just as much as the church family will miss his greeting and hugs. He was so looking forward to once again being able to attend church physically “IN the Church”. But rest assured he is now assigned to be one of the greeters on Team Jesus.

He leaves behind a devoted brother Ralph L. King and wife Shirley from Godley Texas; nieces Tonya David of Midlothian, Teresa Carlock and husband Rodney Carlock from Joshua, Jessica Wasson and husband Dr. Brian Wasson of Burleson; great-nephew Ryan David and wife Alta of Killeen, Russell and Jessica David of Fort Worth; great-nieces, Macy Carlock Spence and husband Ty of Venus, Anna Carlock of Lubbock, Abby Sophia and Bella Wasson of Burleson; great-great-nephews, Sage Spence of Venus, William and Wyatt David of Fort Worth and numerous friends from The Hill near Maryville Tennessee.

Graveside Service 3 PM, Sunday, May 24, 2020, Salem Cemetery, Kodak, TN (Smith School Road and King Road). Rev. Glen Lowery officiating.