Roy Lea King, age 77, of North Richland Hills, Texas, passed away in his home on Thursday, March 13, 2025, surrounded by family. Roy left a lasting mark on those who called him Son, Brother, Friend, Uncle Roy, Coach King, Husband, Daddy, Pops, and Papaw. His legacy of service, resilience, and passion will carry on in the many lives he touched.
Roy was born on May 3, 1947, in Caneyville, Kentucky, the son of the late Robert and Bertie King. He attended Caneyville Schools, graduating from Caneyville High School in 1965. After graduation, he continued his education at Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Midway through his senior year at WKU, he was drafted into military service amidst the escalating Vietnam War and joined the US Air Force. He was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico from 1970 – 1973, completing his last year of military service in Goose Bay, Canada. Upon his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he returned to New Mexico, where he earned his bachelor’s degree at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU). He would later go on to complete his master’s degree at ENMU, as well.
In 1976, he began a 26-year teaching and coaching career at Texico Municipal Schools. During his tenure at Texico, Coach King taught History and served as Head Coach of the Lady Wolverine Basketball and Track teams. He also supported the Texico football program as an assistant coach. He remains one of the winningest coaches in the history of New Mexico high school sports. In the sport of girls’ basketball, he amassed an impressive 462 wins and 181 losses, collecting 12 New Mexico District Championships, eight Regional Championships, six Eastern Plains Athletic Conference (EPAC) titles, four State Runner-Up Finishes, and four NM State Basketball Championships, the first in 1981, followed by a three-peat in 2000, 2001, & 2002. Coach King’s achievements were recognized by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA), who awarded him with NM Coach of the Year honors four times throughout his career. He was named an NMHSCA Milestone Coach for Girls Track in 1996, receiving Level III Distinction for earning 600+ points during his career. He was again recognized by NMHSCA as a Milestone Coach for Girls Basketball, earning the highest level of distinction (Level IV) for posting 400+ career wins. In 2018, he was inducted into the EPAC Hall of Fame. After retiring from teaching and coaching in New Mexico, he returned to Kentucky in 2003 to teach Health and serve as the Head Basketball Coach of the Grayson County Lady Cougars for five years before retiring a second time and settling in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
A man of quiet but steadfast faith, Roy was a lifelong member of Caneyville Christian Church in Caneyville, KY, and an attendee of several churches in Clovis during his time in New Mexico. He loved his family, the Kentucky Wildcats, the New York Yankees, strawberry milkshakes, geography, Diet Pepsi, Kentucky bluegrass (both the plant and the music), and Hallmark movies, in that order. He was principled, caring, attentive, mischievous, steadfast, and was never seen without an impeccable mustache. In recent years, he spent countless hours with his granddaughters, attending gymnastic meets, going for slushies, riding bikes, teaching them the “right” way to mow the lawn, and serving as their chauffeur from school.
Roy is survived by his wife, Teresa King; daughter, Heather Pereira (Nicolas); son, Matthew King (Emily); and three grandchildren, Abigail King, Lillian King, and Elliana Pereira. He is also survived by his sister Pauline Edwards (Charles); sister-in-law, Lorena King; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Bertie King, as well as his older brother, Carl.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 23 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Dermitt Funeral Home, Leitchfield, Kentucky. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 24 at 11:00 am at Caneyville Christian Church, Caneyville, Kentucky. Interment will be at Layman Memorial Gardens in Millwood, Kentucky with full military honors.
Online Condolences can be made on the guestbook of our website, www.dermittfuneralhome.com.
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