Earl King Jr. was born on October 25, 1948 in Union Town, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of three siblings to Earl King Sr. and Eloise Bailey King. In his youth he attended Mount Rose Baptist Church.

After graduating from Union Town High School, Earl moved to Lansing, Michigan and became employed with General Motors. Earl attended Lansing Community College where he earned an Associates degree in Applied Arts and Science.

In 1968, Earl was drafted into the United States Navy. He received commendations for serving as a firefighter in the Naval River Division 593 while stationed in Saigon, Viet Nam. Upon being honorably discharged, Earl returned to Lansing and resumed employment with General Motors.

Earl married Betsy Flourry in 1971. They were blessed with one son, Jason King. Earl took immense pride in his son. They shared a strong and unique bond. Jason enjoyed being by his father’s side on hunting trips, fishing escapades, camping, and other daily adventures.

Earl was known for his custom-made BBQ grills, which led Earl to establishing his own business. Earl’s compassion for people was radiated through his willingness to help others. Whether welding, working on cars, or home improvements projects, Earl’s broad range of skill and expertise made him a jack-of-all trades. He was very reliable and took great pride is the accuracy and precision of his work. If you needed assistance, you could always count on Earl.

After retiring from General Motors in 1999, Earl enjoyed traveling to the Kentucky Derby and Super Bowls as well as relaxing at home. He was the grill master and would often cook outside while listening to B.B. King. He was the grill master.

Earl quietly transitioned from earthly to eternal life on May 9, 2026. He was preceded in death by: his parents; and his sister, Cynthia King.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted son, Jason (Leona) King; life-long companion, Betsy King; brother, Lawrence King; Brother in laws, Adell (Claudria) Flourry, Clifton Flourry; grandson, Lucas King; extended family & special friends, Samuel Janecke, Cynthia Janecke, Rebecca Janecke, KaiMalik Tolbert, Kerra Tolbert, O’Sha Tolbert; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.