Craig Ellis King, 71, formerly of Holden, MO and Sioux City, IA passed away peacefully on the evening of May 5, 2025, in Houston, TX surrounded by family. Craig moved to Houston, TX to live with his sister after being diagnosed in February 2023 with stage 4 glioblastoma.
The arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Morningside Chapel, Sioux City, IA. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City.
Craig was born on March 10, 1954, in Storm Lake, IA to Ellis F. and Alice I (Walling) King. Craig attended Longfellow Elementary, East Junior and graduated from East High School in 1972 in Sioux City, IA. He then attended the University of South Dakota, in Vermillion, SD graduating in 1976 with a degree in Business Administration.
He moved to St. Joseph, MO after graduation and worked at Brunswick, then moved to Taco Bell in Shawnee and Oklahoma City, OK, Braum’s in Oklahoma City, OK, Wendy’s in Houston, TX and Oklahoma City, OK, Arby’s in Kansas City, MO and Price Chopper Grocery Store in Lee’s Summit, MO. After working for over 41 years mostly in fast food and 7 years in grocery, Craig retired in 2023. While working at Arby’s for over 20 years, he became very close friends with Terry, and they enjoyed meeting for lunch on Fridays. That friendship remained close after he left for Price Chopper, they still enjoyed lunches out, shopping for tools and more tools at Home Depot. She and Craig worked on small projects at each other’s homes. She and Craig spoke weekly after he moved to Texas.
Craig liked going to different types of restaurants with his friend, Paul from Price Chopper to sample the food. He also loved history, and they liked to go to different Civil War battle sites and to their museums in the area. Paul was literally Craig’s lifesaver having alerted the King family to Craig’s absence from work and went to Craig’s home to check on him after having talked with their co-worker, Patti. Patti and Paul have been looking out for Craig since he started at Price Chopper in 2016. Patti called Craig weekly to see how he was doing and let him know what had been happening at the store. She prayed for him daily. Craig really enjoyed the many trips back to Missouri and Iowa after he moved to Texas. He really enjoyed his Price Chopper family. He was a really practical jokester that kept his friends and workplace a lot happier.
Craig liked to garden and was well known for his tomatoes. He was an avid bowler and bowled several 300 games. He really enjoyed spending time with his Texas family, attending graduations and watching his grandnephew with his Schaub family play football for Baylor University in Waco, TX. Many Sundays were spent at the home of his nephew playing some wicked games of spades with his twin grandnieces and nephew. Wednesdays were spent at his niece’s house playing with her five dogs.
He will be forever missed but will remain in our hearts forever. Left to cherish his memory: his father, Ellis F. King, of Sioux City, IA, his sister, Ruth King Gernhart of Houston TX; niece, Tracy Gernhart Schaub (Dean), grandnephews, Dyson King Schaub, Davis Walling Schaub and Dylan Fredrick Schaub all of Huntsville, TX; nephew, Adam J. Gernhart and twin grandnieces, Grace and Madison Gernhart all of Houston, TX; and niece, Sarah A. Gernhart of Houston, TX; several aunts, many Walling and King cousins, other extended relatives and his many friends.
Craig is now reunited with his beloved mother, Alice Irene (Walling) King (2017), maternal grandparents, Gertrude Antonia (Rohde) and Cornelius William Walling and paternal grandparents, Freda Catrina Johanna (Harm) and Jay Cecil “Curly” King. He is also reunited with his faithful golden retriever, Hunny, a gift from his friend Mike.
In lieu of flowers, Craig has requested that you donate to his favorite charity: Wayside Waifs in Kansas City – waysidewaifs.org or your local no kill animal shelter.
A very special thank you to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Hospital team in Houston, TX for helping with the 2-year battle and Bayou City Hospice in Spring, TX that helped with the peaceful transition. Also, a special thank you to The Forum at Memorial Wood Independent Living and Assisted Living in Houston, TX where he lived for a few months and made many friends.
