Everett ‘Bud’ Lee King

NORTH CANAAN — Everett “Bud” Lee King, 77, of Old Turnpike Road passed away May 22, 2011, after a battle with cancer.He was the husband of Beverly Ann (Heath) King for 55 years. Bud was born July 10, 1933, at the former Geer Memorial Hospital. He was the son of the late Catherine Rose (Van Vlack) and Charles Henry King.Bud served in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 to 1954. He served as a corporal in the Korean conflict.Bud was employed by Northeast Utilities for 37 years and retired in 1991. He was a member of the Canaan United Methodist Church all his life. He was an instructor for the Hunter Safety Program in the late 1960s. He was a lifetime member of the Northwest Detachment of the Marine Corps League. He also started the Young Marines in Lakeville and served in the organization for many years. He was a lifetime member of the AMVETS and the VFW.Bud loved his animals and all animals. He enjoyed many years of small-time farming with his chickens and ducks after many years of farming in East Canaan and working his draft horses at fairs. In addition to his wife, Bud is survived by his wonderful loving children, Konrad and his wife, Regina, of Sheffield, Mass., Teresa Aitken and her husband, Scott, of North Canaan, Mark and his wife, Nancy, of Falls Village, Thomas and his wife, Linda, of Southfield, Mass., and his adopted son, Richard Thomen of Hilham, Tenn.; his 11 grandchildren, (“the King boys and the King girls”) whom he loved more than anything in this world, Jason, Jonathan and Jacob King all of Sheffield, Joshua of Becket, Mass., Jordan, Kayla and Ryan King of Falls Village, Sierra King of Sheffield, Karisa King of Southfield, Christopher Aitken of Asheville, N.C., and Joseph Aitken of North Canaan; his sisters, Pauline Garfield of East Canaan and Althea Marshall of Calabash, N.C.; a brother, Alan King of Nokomis, Fla.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his adopted son, Robert Thomen.Bud’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Dr. Kruger and the oncology staff in Torrington and Sharon, Dr. Janelli and Dr. Catania and the staff in these offices. Bud could not have fought all his medical battles without the support in these offices.A military service of Christian burial will be held at the Canaan United Methodist Church on June 10 at 11 a.m. in North Canaan. Burial will follow at the Hillside Cemtery in East Canaan. There will be no calling hours.Memorial donations may be sent to the Northwest Detachment of the Marine Corps League, PO Box 844, North Canaan, CT 06018, the Canaan Fire Company, PO Box 642, North Canaan, CT 06018, the North Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps, PO Box 178, North Canaan, CT 06018 or the VFW Couch-Pipa Post 6851, 104 South Canaan Road, North Canaan, CT 06018.Arrangements are under the care of the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan.