Thousands turn out for King's funeral

MORIARTY, N.M. (KRQE) - Hundreds of former governor Bruce King’s friends and family showed up at his funeral Saturday morning to say goodbye.

News 13 spoke to people as they went into the funeral services. Many knew King personally and said they wanted to share their memories.

“He was a great friend of our entire family,” Tamaya Toulouse said. “[He] gave me my first job in politics out of high school working in his office with youth development programs. He's someone who was very generous with his time and helping people getting into politics and be servants.”

“He appointed me judge and we served in the constitutional convention together," retired New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Joe Baca said. “I owe my entire career to him.”

The mourners started arriving at Moriarty High School around 8 a.m., a full two hours before the funeral started.

Soon after, the parking lots were packed and so was the gym where the services were held.

“We do mourn his loss, but we're happy he's with Alice again,” Jamie Wall said. “I know they had a great love.”
Every space was taken up by the estimated 2,000 in attendance.

“I worked for Governor King during his last administration and it's very sad of course, we're all saddened to lose him but he left a great legacy here,” Sonya Chavez said.

In true Bruce King fashion, his family invited all the funeral mourners to a lunch at the Moriarty Civic Center after his burial.

To those who knew him well, King would have described his send off as 'mighty fine.'