DEXTER, Mo. -- The Rev. Gerald W. King, 77, of Dexter died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter.

He was born Aug. 14, 1930, at Campbell, Mo., son of Roy Judson and Cleda Mildred Allen King. He and Bonnie Mae Lackey Jones were married June 28, 1968, at Kinder, Mo. She died Nov. 20, 1997.

King had lived in Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sikeston, Mo., and St. Louis before moving to Puxico, Mo., in 1967. He had owned and operated a welding shop and had worked for Puxico schools as a bus driver for many years. King was a General Baptist minister and had pastored at area churches. He was currently pastoring the Hill General Baptist Church near Bloomfield, Mo. King was a volunteer at the Puxico Nutrition Center. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and had served during the Korean War.

Survivors include four daughters, Cathy Dunivan, Sherry Spencer, both of Advance, Mo., Cindy Kennedy of Poplar Bluff, Bethel Covington of Abilene, Texas; six sons, Danny King of Poplar Bluff, Stanley Jones of Grassy, Mo., Marvin S. Jones of Puxico, Randy and Rex Jones, both of Jackson, Kenneth Jones of Indianapolis; three brothers, Kenneth D. King of St. Charles, Mo., Carl E. King of Mountain Home, Ark., Robert D. King of Puxico; three sisters, Mary Jane Harrison of Advance, Lois Mae Loida of Sullivan, Mo., Ina Marie Davis of Omaha, Neb.; 30 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Chapel in Puxico.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the chapel, with the Revs. Ray Placher and Kenneth Lambert officiating.

Burial will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.