Clarence "Clacky" H. King Jr.

Clarence H King, Jr., sailor, boater, dog lover, and retired hardware executive and salesman, died peacefully at home in Easton, MD on his 95th birthday with his devoted wife, Sandra Wellford King, at his side. Born December 20, 1929 in Webster Groves, MO, "Clacky" was the third child of Clarence H. King, and Marian Gregg King. A true child of the Depression with older siblings, "Clacky" led a very independent childhood, wandering all over St. Louis County on his bicycle, and venturing downtown on the trolley accompanied by his dog, Red. An enterprising boy, at a young age he saved enough allowance to rehabilitate a motorbike which he quickly swapped and parlayed, first into a motorcycle and then, at age 12, into an automobile, prompting his sister to announce at dinner one night, "You know Clacky is really an excellent driver," thus solving the mysteries of how Lucia had gotten home from college that weekend and who owned the strange car in the driveway. Going away to school at age 14, he graduated from St. Paul's School, Form of 1948, and then Yale College 1952. After Naval ROTC at Yale, he accepted a commission as a LT Junior grade upon graduation and served on the USS Wisconsin. Upon his return from Korea, Clacky married Toni Richards King of Greenwich, CT. The couple were married for 46 years, during which time his successful and innovative career in the hardware industry led them from Hartford, to Atlanta, back to St. Louis, then to Cincinnati and finally to Grosse Pointe, MI. It was there that Clacky struck out on his own and launched King and Associates, a smashing success that allowed him to spend most of the summer sailing around the Great Lakes and entertaining customers on his boat. Clacky retired at 65 and moved to Boca Grande, FL. While Clacky wanted to spend his life on the water, Toni preferred to stay ashore and to spend time in Italy. They divorced amicably in 2001. In 2002, Clacky was introduced to Sandra Shettle Wellford, and a happy chapter of both their lives began; it included many sailboats, Norwich Terriers, and beloved friends and family. Clacky and Sandy were married at Christ Church in St. Michael's MD in 2003, and during their 21 years together in Oxford and Easton, they spent many enjoyable days on the Race Committee boat or on club cruises of the Tred Avon Yacht Club. Sandy's altruism inspired Clacky to support her tireless, decades long directorship of Talbot's Special Riders (now known as Positive Strides), and also to involve himself as a mentor to a local school-aged boy. Clacky was predeceased by his older siblings, Cecil D. Gregg King and Lucia King O'Reilly; he is survived by his two children, Clarence H. King, III of Wellesley, MA and Toni King Callahan of Concord, NH, step son, George (Jody) Shettle of Easton, MD, by his four grandchildren, Sally King McBride, Joshua Hopkins King, Sarah Callahan Koontz, and Bronwen King Callahan, by four nephews, three nieces, and seven great-grandchildren, and by his wife, Sandra Wellford King, who was the love of his life. An extrovert by nature, Clacky made, collected, and kept friends easily all his life. He was appreciated for his humor and his eagerness to swap stories; he was loyal to family and friends and chose honor over self-aggrandisement. Among his and Sandy's most beloved and trusted friends have been Vernice and George Dixon, of Easton, MD whose love and care made them family and extended the length and quality of Clacky's life of 95 years. In lieu of flowers donations in Clacky's memory can be made to Positive Strides Therapeutic Riding Center (https://www.positivestridescenter.org) A service of Christian burial will take place at 11 AM at Christ Church Episcopal, St. Michael's, MD on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Clarence "Clacky" H. King Jr.

December 20, 1929 - December 20, 2024