He was born March 3, 1936, in Beaver County, OK, to Rufus & Hazel (Matkin) King.
Gene was raised on the family farm near Turpin, OK until his family moved to Liberal, KS while he was in grade school.
Gene graduated from Liberal High School in 1954 and then attended his freshman year at Kansas State
University. He transferred to Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, OK and continued his
education. After two years, he decided to serve his country and enlisted in the United State Army, serving
four years of active and three years of reserve duty. He completed his basic training at Fort Carson, CO,
completed his mechanical training at Ft. Dix, NJ and served his time as a Nike Missile repair technician at
Ft. McArthur, San Pedro, CA. After completing his active duty, Gene returned to OPSU to complete his
education in mathematics and agriculture. While there, he met the love of his life, Joan Watson, who
became his wife on March 30, 1961. When they finished college, they moved to the family farm and
began a lifelong pursuit of farming and ranching. In addition to his agricultural interests, Gene
thoroughly enjoyed fishing, especially in Colorado, collecting, and was an active reader of farm journals,
newspapers, collector magazines and history books. Family and friends, especially those from high
school, were important to him.
Gene is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Joan King, daughter LuAnn Hill (Joe) of Winfield,
KS, daughter Tara Kirkhart (Roger) of Turpin OK, son Marlon King (Michalle) of Wichita, KS and daughter
Jackie Depew (Daren) of Beaver, OK, his sister JoAnn Sharp of Liberal, KS, sister Jan King of Scottsdale,
AZ, eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren with 2 more expected soon.
He was preceded in death by his Father, Rufus King, his mother, Hazel King, his sisters Sammy Lane Cope,
Carol Lea Roberts, and infant brother Rufus Alroy King.
There will be no public viewing.
Funeral Services will be 10:00 am Monday, February 28, 2022 at the Turpin United Methodist Church in Turpin, OK.
Burial will follow at the Liberal City Cemetery in Liberal, KS.
Memorials are established benefiting the Turpin Fire Department and the Turpin United Methodist Church in care
of Miller Mortuary PO Box 826 Liberal, KS 67905-0826.
Friends may share memories and leave condolences on Gene’s tribute web page at www.millermortuary.net.
