Thomas Earl King, 61, passed away at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, December 29, 2014, at his residence in Glen Carbon.

He was born on Saturday, October 31, 1953, in Fort Eustus, Va., the son of Thomas Earl King and Donna Sue (Rector) King. He married Carole Summerlott on April 22, 1995.

Mr. King was a former Police Detective at East Alton, Ill., Director of Safety and Security at the Botanical Gardens, and Director of Safety and Security at the Mansion House in St. Louis, a Master Scuba Instructor, and a Detective at the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and a Commercial Truck Driver. He was also a member of the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI). He also served in the U S Army. Mr King also attended the University of Maryland.

Survivors include his wife, Carole King of Glen Carbon, Ill.; sister, Debbie Lulei of Plant City, Fla.; sister-in-law, Ann Marie Disney of Decatur, Ill.; aunt, Mary Ann Sparrow of Indianapolis, Ind.

Preceded in death by his father, Thomas Earl King, and mother, Donna Sue King.

Visitation will be held 11 a.m. until time of funeral service at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at Sunset Hill Funeral Home in Glen Carbon , Ill., with Randy Butler officiating. Burial will be held at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.herrfuneral.com. / www.sunsethillcemetery.com.