Oliver Russell King, 72, of Athens, died Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville.

A lifelong resident of McMinn County, he was a son of the late Charlie Allen and Laura Ellen Oliver King, and was preceded in death by one brother, William Allen King; and two sisters, Louise King and Dorothy King. A retired employee of Hydratane Gas Company, he was a former employee of Suburban Propane Gas Company. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed woodworking and making furniture for his family and was an avid gardener.

Survivors include his wife of 23 years, Linda S. King of Athens; one daughter and son-in-law, Dana and Sean Jaquish of Athens; one stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Chris and Natalie Walker of Knoxville; two grandchildren, Chloe Ellen Jaquish and Caroline Emma Jaquish; two step-grandchildren, William Christopher Walker Jr. and Elizabeth Marie Walker; one sister, Alfreda Trotter of Athens; one aunt, Bertha Oliver Womac of Athens; his mother-in-law, Mary Sue Scarbrough of Athens; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Max and Juanita Scarbrough of Athens, and Susan and David Lauver of Knoxville; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 7 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with James Summers officiating. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Upper Spring Creek Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Mike Burns, Sean Jaquish, Chris Walker, David Baxter, Marvin Kelley and Steve Hester. Larry Blackburn will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Heart Association, 4708 Papermill Dr., Knoxville, TN 37909.