Terrill A. (Turk) King, age 89, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.
Terrill was born on January 11, 1937, to Melford and Della (Lyman) King. He grew up in Payson, Utah, one of nine children and ultimately became the last surviving sibling. As a young man, he joined the United States Marine Corps. During his service, his mother had four sons serving in the military at the same time, a remarkable sacrifice and source of family pride.
After a brief career as a surveyor for the State of Utah in Wayne, Grand, and Emery Counties, Terrill entered the sheet metal trade, where he spent decades building a reputation for excellence, reliability, and craftsmanship.
Like the sheet metal Terrill worked with, his life was shaped by sharp edges, heat, and pressure. His work was strong, purposeful, and built to last, just like he was, always showing off his precision and skill.
Terrill was a loving husband to his wife, Mary Lee (Cloward) King, for just shy of 68 years. Together they built a life centered on family, faith, hard work, and service. They lived in American Fork for 37 years while raising their family before returning to Payson in 1999, where Terrill had grown up. They remained there until 2025, when they relocated to St. George to enjoy the warmth of the desert and family.
He was a devoted father to Debbie Thornton of Orangeville, Jim King of Provo, Todd King (Colleen) of Midvale, and Corrin Smith (Earl) of St. George, all of whom he loved deeply and was immensely proud of. Their family grew rapidly to include eleven grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.
After retiring from the sheet metal trade, Terrill started driving a tractor-trailer for Clark. Terrill and Mary hit the road throughout the western United States. This became a treasured chapter of their lives and an opportunity to spend time together after decades of work and family responsibilities.
Their marriage was later sealed in the Manti Utah Temple in 2011. Their faith remained an important part of their lives, and together they served in the Branch Presidency at the Mervyn Sharp Bennion Veterans Home in Payson, a calling they greatly enjoyed.
“Once a Marine, always a Marine,” he would declare. Powered by his unmatched compassion, in retirement he spent an enormous amount of time celebrating the lives of veterans like himself through his work with the American Legion, showing up at every funeral he could make until he could move no more.
Through the American Legion, he also took a special interest in helping young men attend Boys State. He collected aluminum cans, sold them, and donated the proceeds to help fund participation in the program. He also participated in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., accompanied by his daughter Corrin, who later joked that she spent much of the trip pushing an empty wheelchair because Terrill insisted on walking whenever he could.
The family gratefully acknowledges the Mervyn Sharp Bennion Veterans Home in Payson, Dixie Home Health & Hospice, and especially Corrin and Earl for their compassionate care and support.
Terrill was preceded in death by his parents, Melford and Della King; his brothers Arl “Pete” King, Hal King, Jim King, Garth King, and Ross King; his sisters Afton Hales, Ruth Ann Wilkins, and Jane Ludlow; his son-in-law Steven Thornton; and his daughter-in-law Marie King.
Terrill leaves behind a life marked by clean lines, solid craftsmanship, union pride, and the unmistakable mark of a man who believed everything worth building should be done right, especially his family.
A family prayer / farewell will be held at Walker Funeral Home at 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, followed by a graveside service with military honors at 12:00 p.m. in Payson City Cemetery located at 400 North 800 East in Payson, Utah.
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