Obit – Mr. Michael King
A gentleman who was a friend to all, Mr. Michael King age 59 of Carthage, more lovingly known as Coach, departed this earthly life to be with his Heavenly Father at 1:19 a.m. E. S. T. Sunday morning April 13, 2025 at the LeConte Medical Center Emergency Department in Sevierville where he was admitted at 12:11 a.m. E.S.T. with C. P. R. in progress
Coach was at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home where his funeral services were conducted 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon April 16th at 3 p.m. His pastor, Bro. Tommy Ferguson officiated, and Coach’s dear friend, Mark Medley and cousin, Scott Clemons delivered the eulogies. Interment followed the services beside his mother and father in the Garden of Gethsemane at the Smith County Memorial Gardens.
He was born James Michael King at the former McFarland Hospital in Lebanon on August 25, 1965 and was one of three sons of the late James Kenneth King who died October 10, 2020 at the age of 78 and Lellie Marie King who died January 3, 2025 at the age of 80.
Josh, who so loved his brother had transported with him to the University of Tennessee Orange & White football game in Knoxville on Saturday and then on to Pigeon Forge where they attended the Hatfield-McCoys Dinner Theatre. Shortly after arrival at their motel room following the event and dinner was when Coach was overcome with respiratory problems and went into cardiac arrest.
Another brother, Rondal Shane King, died in an automobile accident on Sparta Pike in Lebanon on November 15, 1998 at the age of 29.
He was considered the assistant football coach for the Gordonsville Tigers and was the twelfth man at every practice game and football game.
Coach was a charter member of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Lebanon and after moving to Carthage was carried to the Hickman Baptist Church on Sundays by his Pastor and friend, Bro. Tommy Ferguson.
He was a 1985 graduate of Lebanon High School where he was active in the football program there, a game he so loved. In 1995 he was honored with a two-page spread in the October 27, 1995 Friday edition of the former Nashville Banner about his dedication to the Blue Devils and about a jacket presented to him by the team which read on the back “King of the Blue Devils”. He was always rooting them on, putting his heart and soul into the game and to every offensive player before they entered the field he would yell; “get out there and score”.
And now to his tenure at Gordonsville High School, he had a football helmet and football signed by the “Tiger” team players. Just like the other team members of the 2012 TSSAA Class 1A State Football champions, he was awarded a trophy with his name and Assistant Coach engraved. He never missed a game and was totally supported by the coaches and players and was beloved by the students.
His disability in life never hindered him from having a smile and a love to conversate with his friends and new people he came in contact with and soon made them his new friends. Michael was a sweet soul that everyone loved and no one who ever came in contact with him d loved and appreciated his love of life.
Coach’s life will be remembered by a generation now and the one’s which he affected their lives with his friendliness.
In 2024, he as inducted into the Lebanon Blue Devils Football Hall of fame.
His only immediate survivor is his brother, Josh, who has seen after need of Michael’s since the passing of their parents.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
