Larry Russell King, 77, of Rison, Arkansas, passed away on August 3, 2024, at the home he shared with his loving wife in Rison.
Larry was born on October 22, 1946, to the late William Terrell King and Birdie Lee (Green) King in Rison. He was known as Rusty to many people who knew him, but most people know him as Paw.
He was a longtime member of Zion Missionary Baptist Church. His grandchildren recalled that he read his Bible daily and shared many words from the pages of it even after his passing through the extensive notes that he took in personal Bible.
Every time he would read his Bible, he would kiss it, and lay it down before he prayed.
Larry attended Rison High School. After graduating in 1965, he attended Pines VoTech in Pine Bluff, where he earned a Technical Certificate.
He was the manager of the Anthony Kervin Lumber Company for sixteen years before he started a final career at Aerojet in Camden. He retired from Aerojet in 2012 as the maintenance supervisor.
Throughout his life, Larry spent a lot of time investing in Rison and its people.
Larry served as a member of the Cleveland County Auxiliary Police department, a volunteer ambulance driver, and coached little league. He also served on the Rison School Board for ten years. He retired from the Rison Volunteer Fire Department after twenty-eight years of service. He was known to be able to fix anything and was always looking for his next project or the next person who needed help.
In 1991, he met Deanna (Stewart) King whom he married in 1992. On July 25, they celebrated 32 years of marriage.
Anyone who knew Larry, knew that family was extremely important to him. He is survived by his sister Joann Rhodes (Robert), two brothers Carter King (Cindy) and Billy King (Kathy), and one sister-in-law Lilly King, all of Rison.
He was a devoted father to his children. He would never fail to tell them to "be careful" and always told them "I love ya'll. All of you." He is survived by a daughter Angie Hudson and son-in-law Bo, a son Davy King and daughter-in-law Kim Kaye all of Rison. He was also survived by a stepson Rex Hagaman (Velinda) of Hot Springs.
His grandchildren and greatgrandchildren were his pride and joy. "Paw" spent a lot of time traveling to watch them play sports, cheer, pageants, and dance over the years. He never missed a chance to show them how proud he was of them. He would brag about them to anyone who asked him about his family.
He is survived by his grandchildren Drake Palazzi and wife Breanna (Pierce) Palazzi of Hot Springs, Payton Palazzi Harvey and husband Lance Harvey, Sydney Palazzi all of Star City, Grant King and wife Christie (Shopher) King, and Alli Beth King of Rison, Austin Palazzi of Russellville, and West Hagaman of Magnolia. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Korbyn Harvey and Colt Harvey of Star City, and was excited about the expected arrival of his third great-grandson in November.
He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews whom he was very close to.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Birdie King, a brother Roy King, a sister Paulette Cash and her husband Jimmy, a stepdaughter Brooks Hagaman, and a stepson Andy Hagaman.
Services were Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Rison with Larry's pastor, Bro. Ronald Young, officiating the service. Serving as pallbearers were his grandsons Drake Palazzi, Grant King, Lance Harvey, Austin Palazzi, and West Hagaman. Honorary pallbearers were his nephews William King, Jerry Gossett, Allen Rhodes, Michael Rhodes, Brad Hurst, Brandon Taylor, and Shane Aud.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials in honor of Larry King to Zion Missionary Baptist Church.