James (Jim) Walter King was born to Howard and Georgia King on March 31, 1933, in Garden City, Kansas. He was one of three children born to Howard and Georgia; he had an older sister Charlotte (née King) Gibbs and a younger brother, Terry Pat King. The family moved to Pueblo in 1944, and later south of Yuma in 1948. Jim attended grade school in Abarr, and graduated from Yuma High School in 1952.
While attending Yuma High School, he lived above the Ford garage and worked to pay rent so as not to have to commute from the family ranch to school each day. He was on the track and field team, as well as the rodeo team, where his rodeo team was a two-time state champion. His team included Roger Herman, Leon Mekelburg, Dale Lasater, Rodney Chance and Don Chrismer.
In 1953, he was inducted in the Army. The next year, Jim married Carol Campbell in Trinidad and their son, Michael, was born the same year. Together, they lived in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, until moving to Albuquerque in 1955, after Jim was honorably discharged after two years of service.
Jim worked for Rust Caterpillar and on Navajo Dam. In 1959, he and Carol divorced, and he moved to Tucson to work in construction. A year later, he married Edlyn Fenelon, who had a son from a previous marriage – Mason. In 1963, Jim and Edlyn moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and welcomed another son, Terry Zant. Jim worked at General Dynamics, Dobbs Detroit, and the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. During this time, Jim and Edlyn, who later died in 1984, divorced, and Jim married Betty James.
In 1988, Jim retired from DFW and moved to Granbury, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth. He and Betty purchased some acreage, sold parcels after developing them, and also raised thoroughbreds for racing – the main horse named Runs Naked. In June of 2008, Betty died of lung cancer.
Jim lived in Granbury until he returned to Cope in 2021 because he had “three wrecks in two months” says son Mason, “so we brought him home.” In 2024, Jim moved into Harmony Home in Yuma, and he lived there until he passed on January 2, 2026, at the age of 92.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, and his wives. He is survived by brother Terry Pat King (Suzanne) of Ohio, son Mike Cheshire of Otis, son Mason King (Brenda Drullinger) of Cope, and son Terry Zant King of Ecuador. He is also survived by grandsons Tyson King (Shonda) of Cope, Travis King (Lyndsey) of Sterling, Milo Cheshire of Yuma, and granddaughter Destynee Cheshire of Westminster, as well as 8 great-grandkids. He was cherished by all and will be missed.
Memorial Service – Friday, January 16, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at the Liberty Church in Joes, Colorado. Pastor Terry Covert will be officiating the service.