Ryan Alexander King

Ryan Alexander King left this world on Tuesday, at the tender age of 14.
A native Georgian, King was born in Macon on July 1, 1998. He lived in Bishop, and was a follower of the Catholic faith.
With radiant blue eyes and a flashing smile, King's ebullience could fill a room and make you glad to be there with him. He was a showman at heart, cracking jokes on the fly, and was the only one who could make his mother laugh at any given moment.
King was a freshman at Oconee County High School, where he shared his passion for soccer. Skilled beyond his years, and moving nimbly on a tall, muscular frame, he played for both Athens United and the Oconee County Warriors. His father tried to keep up with him at CrossFit, which was their morning routine.
King was a kind and gentle soul who loved all of God's creatures, aspiring to become a small animal veterinarian someday. Two of those creatures, dogs Shorty and Bayley, would curl up in bed with him every night.
King had a voracious appetite for the printed word, gobbling up books faster than his mother could buy them. He also loved the outdoors, camping, kayaking, and fishing with his family - competing for the best catch with his brother.
King was a free spirit in the truest sense of the word - never restrained by convention - but always knew what really mattered in life: his family. His mother, Collette; father, Richard; and brother, Connor, would keep him grounded, supporting and nurturing him along life's path. Other survivors include his grandparents and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The family will receive friends from 6-8PM on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at Lord & Stephens West Chapel, in Bogart.
Funeral services will also be held there at 5PM on Friday, with the burial following in Oconee Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oconee Regional Humane Society.