Thomas M. King

Thomas M. “Tom” King, 83, of La Salle, passed away May 12, 2026 at Allure of Mendota.

Visitation will be Saturday, May 23,  from 3 to 6:00 PM at the Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle. Cremation will follow. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in La Salle at a later date with full military honors.

Tom was born in Sandwich on May 22, 1942 to Harry and Irma (Grady) King. He graduated from Sandwich High School in 1960. Tom served as a paratrooper with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg from 1963-1966. He married Cheryl Ryder in 1965 and divorced in 1986. Together, they had three children. On December 31, 1989, he married Sammye McVay on Indian Key Island in the Florida Everglades where they met.

Tom was a lifetime member of the Sandwich Moose Lodge #1016 and the Spring Valley Boat Club. Tom and Sammye spent their winters in Everglades City, FL fishing and enjoying time with friends from all over the country. 

Tom is survived by his wife, Sammye of La Salle; children, Stacy (Chuck) Collins of Eagle, CO, Erik (Krissy) King of Somonauk, and Michael (Tracy)King of Somonauk; stepchildren, Cari McVay of Cedar Point and Tammy McVay of Cedar Point; six grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Donald “Doc” Grady; brother, Michael; and grandson, Kellan Thomas Collins.

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