Joe King

Mr. Joe A. King, a long time resident of Williston, passed away Sunday, February 18, 2018 at the E.T. York Hospice Care Center in Gainesville. He was 91. Joe was from a long line of cowboys and that is how he wanted to live his life. While working as an Army surgical technician during WWII, the surgeons he worked with were so impressed by his skills, they offered to pay for his education in the medical field. Of course, at 19 years old, he just couldn't wait to get back to his horses and cattle. He worked on cattle ranches in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana. He trained, showed, and raced quarter horses. Next he began training and racing thoroughbreds. After his success at training some horses for Mr. Howard Sams, he was offered the position of manager at Waldemar Farm in Williston, Florida. With his horsemanship skills and just good old horse sense, the farm produced winners such as Foolish Pleasure, winner of the 1975 Kentucky Derby. He was a past member of the American Quarter Horse Association, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and the Florida Cattleman's Association. He loved to laugh and never met a stranger. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mamie King; his sister, Katherine King; and his daughter, Julie Ann King Brown. Those left behind are his daughter, Linda Munson (Tom) of Crystal River, Florida; daughter, Wynona Sullivan (David) of Williston; son, Larry King (Cookie) of Williston; 9 grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren. The family will be having a private graveside service and, in lieu of flowers, ask that donations in memory of "Mr. Joe" be made to his church family, the Rafter Cross Cowboy Church, P.O. Box 358, Williston, Florida, 32696. Knauff Funeral Home - Williston in charge of arrangements.