Gayle Dean King, 65, passed away on Friday, August 28th, at home in Kennedale, Texas. He was born on April 7th, 1961, in Jacksonville, Texas.

Gayle King grew up in Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School in 1978. After high school, he hiked across America, from Colorado to the Alaskan Wilderness, and lived in the wild that he loved, surviving solely on what he could hunt and fish. He was a former Army Ranger and was one of the best shots in his class. He earned high marks as a Rifle M16 Marksman, a Hand Grenade Sharpshooter, a TOW Gunner Sharpshooter, and earned his Parachute Badge by jumping into the dark and surviving dangerous territory. He was a star football player at Arlington High in the 70s, and many of his friends and family remember how good he was on the field.

He also kept and tamed a raccoon named Rocky. If you know, you know. My Dad was a kind man who loved the outdoors and animals. He made friends everywhere he went and always stood up for those being abused or mistreated. He could crack a rattlesnake like a whip and had a laugh that filled the room.

My father was preceded in death by his daughter, Megan Louise King; his father, Jerry Dale King; and the mother of his children, Deborah Leigh Vealey King.

My father is survived by; his mother, Golda Dean King of Kennedale, Texas; his son Mitchell Dean King and his husband, Michael Legler of Kansas City, Kansas; his daughter, Mandi Leigh King of Kennedale, Texas; his daughter, Shayna Bruce of Danville, Kentucky; and his brothers Randall King of Kennedale, Texas; Michael King of Kennedale, Texas; and James King and his wife Tori Vaughn of Scurry, Texas; and nieces Angela King of Kennedale, Texas; and Julia Marie Baughman and her husband Allen Baughman of Prosper, Texas; and their children Eli, Parker, Zane, Clay, and Ian Baughman.

He is also survived by the Villaire family of Kennedale, Texas; his Aunt Gloria Villaire; his cousin Sean Villaire and wife, Jennifer Villaire; and their daughter Alison Rivera and son, Evan Villaire.

As well as his cousin Denét Villaire of Freeport, Florida, and her children, Kyle Faunce and Sean Paul Faunce.

He was widely loved.

A memorial service will be held at Emerald Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 500 Kennedale Sublett Rd, Kennedale, TX 76060 at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25th.

“I would rather be ashes than dust!

I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

The function of man is to live, not to exist.

I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.

I shall use my time.”

― Jack London