Stephen Carey King's Obituary
Mr. Stephen Carey King died at home surrounded by family after a long and valiant battle with a Glioblastoma brain tumor on May 28, 2023, in Longview, Texas at the age of 73.
Born May 2, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan, to an Air Force family to Captain Cecil and Mary Frances King. As an Air Force family they moved from Japan, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and England finally returning back to Texas. As a child, he enjoyed tinkering with electronics, taking apart radios and televisions, and delighting his family when he would put them together again. He received the Eagle Scout Award with the Boy Scouts of America and lived their motto of being prepared throughout his entire life. He graduated from W.H. Adamson High School in Dallas, Texas, in 1968 and graduated from University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in electrical engineering in 1973.
He moved to Longview to work at Swepco where he faithfully worked for 35 years. Stephen met his wife Janet Smeltzer King at a bible study and knew immediately she was the one for him. They were married for 47 years and had two daughters. He was an involved father and he lovingly supported his girls, attending every performance, school play, awards assembly or activity. He never missed an opportunity to encourage them and let them know he was proud of them. He was an active member of Greggton United Methodist Church for over 40 years and served faithfully. After his retirement at Swepco he took a job for S&C Electric out of Chicago and enjoyed his career there for another 13 years, traveling all over the country before retiring in July 2021. He had a love of math and science and a passion for teaching people and was fortunate to enjoy careers where his interests were aligned.
He was blessed to enjoy his six grand children and loved spending time with them whenever he could. Providing for his family and loving them were his life’s work. Living so close to his wife’s family, they became like his own, especially in the final year and a half of his life where he and his mother-in-law fought simultaneous battles against the same Glioblastoma brain tumors and the Smeltzer family provided endless support. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
He is Predeceased by Capt. Cecil J. King and Mary Frances of Dallas; and Eddie and Marie Smeltzer of Longview. He is survived by his loving wife, Janet King of Longview; his daughter Stephanie Kazenske and her husband Faustino of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; daughter Rachel Tiffin and her husband Jeremiah of Boerne; six grandchildren, Ethan, Savannah, Charlotte, and Madeleine Kazenske of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Isaac and Daniel Tiffin of Boerne; brother, Ronnie King and wife Crystal of Plano; Sister, Connie Goodrich and husband Jim of McKinney; brother-in-law Gene Smeltzer and wife Billie of Longview; and Brother-in-law Stacy Smeltzer of Longview. And numerous beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation will be at Radar Funeral Home Chapel, 1617 Judson Road, Longview, TX from 6:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, June, 1, 2023.
Graveside Service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 2, 2023 at Chalk Hill Cemetery (South of Lake Cherokee) FM 1716, Henderson, Texas.
Pallbearers will be Ron King, brother; Faustino Kazenske, son-in-law; Jeremiah Tiffin, son-in-law; Bill Smeltzer, nephew; Brad Smeltzer, nephew; and Austin Smeltzer, nephew.
We would like to thank Comfort Keepers and Heart to Heart Hospice for their care and support. Special thanks to Trise, Shekeela, Danielle, and Shari.
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