Roll Call Tribute

Charles Ray King 
July 9, 1941 - June 23, 2023 

Funeral services for Charles Ray King, 81, of Livingston, Texas, will be held Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at Central Baptist Church in Livingston, Texas with Brent Stovall and Joel Salazar officiating. Interment will follow at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Livingston, Texas. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 27, 2023, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., in the Cochran Funeral Chapel in Livingston, Texas.

Charles Ray King was born July 9, 1941, in Clarksville, Texas to parents, Cleve L. King and Ethel Oleta (Pittman) King and passed away June 23, 2023, in Livingston, Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Beverly King; brother, Wayne King; and grandson, Jason Wright.

Charles graduated from Texas A&M University in 1963. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and served as a 1LT with A Battery, 1st Battalion, 16th Artillery, and 2nd Armored Division. After active duty, he continued to serve our country as a Captain in the Army Reserves. Charles was proud of his service to our country.

After the military, Charles moved to the Dallas area to work for Texas Power & Light where he met and married Beverly Norris in 1967. The couple moved to College Station in the Spring of 1969, where Charles worked for his beloved Texas A&M University in the Personnel Department. Charles was ordained a deacon at First Baptist Church, College Station, TX where he also served as a Sunday School teacher.

Upon his mother’s death, he moved his family back to Livingston in 1973 to be closer to his father and began working for Sam Houston Electric Co-Op (SHECO). Charles served as Personnel/ Human Resource Director at SHECO for 20+ years. He also served as the Texas State President of Rural Electric Co-Op Human Resource Directors. After working at SHECO, Charles served as the Office Manager at the Livingston Telephone Company.

Charles purposefully invested a lot of time in his two sons: Chad and Todd King. He served as both a head coach and as an assistant coach for his sons' teams in the Livingston Youth Baseball program. He could also be found on the sidelines of youth and high school football, soccer, basketball and baseball fields as well as the high school band cheering on his sons and their friends.

Charles and Beverly were married for 24+ years before her unexpected death in 1991.

Charles married Sherolyn (Surface) Williams in 2002 and they were married 21 years before his passing Friday. They loved spending time hosting family at their home. Thanksgiving and Christmas were special times and Charles particularly loved when the musical instruments were brought out.

Charles King was a devout Christian and an active member of Central Baptist Church where he served as a deacon since 1973. He taught Sunday School for 40+ years, primarily 7th grade boys. He served as a chaperone for many youth events and youth trips. Later in life, Charles took it upon himself to visit widows and widowers until he was unable to do so physically.

Charles was a strong Christian, faithful and wonderful husband, dad and granddad.

Charles is survived by his wife, Sherolyn King of Livingston, Texas; sons and daughters-in-law, Chad King and Barbie of Frisco, Texas, Todd King and Madelyn of Wylie, Texas, Eric Williams and Wendy of College Station, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Shana Smith and Nathan of Livingston, Texas; son and daughter-in-law, Craig Williams and Hannah, also of Livingston, Texas; grandchildren, Janelle King, Preston King, Dylan King, Kiera King, Sarah King, Lyndon Williams and Autumn Williams; brother, Kenneth King; sister and brother-in-law, Oleta Newcomb and Bill and sister, Carol King; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers: Preston King, Dylan King, Lyndon Williams, Tim Mentzel, Jim Mentzel, Will Fisher, Robert Long and Russell Jones

Honorary Pallbearers: Terry Proctor, Keith Stapleton, Jeff Kilpatrick, Mike Owens and Deacons of Central Baptist Church.