Portland - Gary King, 77, passed away April 27, 2026. We will miss him dearly, but we are grateful that he will spend eternity with the Lord God.

Born in Lewiston, Maine on December 7, 1948, son of the late William E. King and Theresa Charland King, he spent most of his life in the Portland area. Gary loved to fish and enjoy the streams, rivers, lakes, and ocean spots of Maine. His loving nieces called him the “best Portland tour guide.”

Cherishing our amazing mother, Gary and she spent countless hours together, creating a powerful and unique mother/son bond.

The third oldest of eight children, Gary was a hero and role model in his early life. And in later life, the wonderful relationships that Gary had with all of his siblings brought happiness and inspiration to the whole family.

In spite of seven specific events over several decades in which Gary probably should not have survived, God kept him on earth to fulfill a destiny of encouraging and coaching others. In particular, Gary’s deep love and brother/sisterhood commitment impacted the lives of hundreds in the AA community.

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Gary was a world-class athlete, an All-American, and a top national and Olympic trials competitor in the decathlon. Gary later, coached track & field at UMass Amherst and Columbia University.

Gary’s greatest professional achievement and joy came from individual coaching of track & field State Champion athletes. The most endearingly special of these was a 31-year relationship with two sisters (Delia and Alana van Loenen).

And as only God could orchestrate it, Gary got to spend the last two years of his life coaching the high jump & sprints to the 13-year-old daughter of one of the sisters, Rita Barrera. This provided him such enthusiastic fun and motivation to fully embrace the last months of his life (even running this kid through their “hallway/staircase workout” at his apartment building just hours before he passed away, in spite of being in severe pain and having no energy).

He is survived by his seven siblings: Pamela Sharpe of Cape Elizabeth; brother Larry King and wife Carol of South Portland; sister Cathy Whitney and partner Skip Winchell of Portland; brother Doug King and wife Cheri of Palm Harbor, FL; sister Linda and husband John Michalczyk of Naples, FL; brother Dicky King and wife Renee of Raleigh NC; and brother Gregg King and wife Kerri of Sanbornton, NH; many loving nephews and nieces, including predeceased nephew Jeffrey King; along with extended family and loyal friends.

Gary‘s love for Jesus Christ (with his new spiritual birth on December 14, 2013 ) resulted in a profound transformation including: never having the slightest desire to ever drink again; having a peace that surpassed all understanding; and an unquenchable daily thirst to not only know about God, but to know and trust Him super personally.

Gary deeply wanted everyone he knew to come to surrender their lives to believe in Jesus. And in doing so, we will spend eternity with Gary in Heaven… enjoying his laughs, deep conversations, encouragement, smiling stories, challenging instruction, sincere love, and passion. As Gary stated and shared, “Jesus is all that matters. Just believe.”

Gary, we love you so much. Thank you for being an inspiration to so many. We are wiser, stronger and more loving people because we got to journey this life with you.

Please join us in celebrating Gary’s vibrant life on June 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Dolby, Blais & Segee funeral home Chapel, 35 Church Street, Westbrook, ME. Burial following will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations maybe made in honor of Gary King to his alma mater Chevrus High School Track & Field, 267 Ocean Ave., Portland, ME 04103.