Robert A. Knight

Robert Allen Knight passed from this life January 3rd, 2021 at home in Shawnee, Oklahoma after a nearly two year battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was born September 20th, 1943 at City Hospital in Shawnee to parents Raymond M. Knight and Mary Louise Knight (Ingram) both preceding him in death. He briefly lived in Del Ray Beach, Florida while his father taught high altitude bombing at the nearby Boca Raton Army Airfield. Following the end of World War II, he and his family moved back to the Shawnee area. Robert attended Westboro grade school (grades 1-8) and graduated Shawnee High School in 1961. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1965 and 1966 with B.S. degrees in accounting and agricultural economics respectively. After marrying Patricia N. Knight in March of 1966, he spent the next 9 years employed by the B.F. Goodrich Tire Co. in Miami, Oklahoma and Los Angeles, California. In 1975, he moved back to Shawnee to the Knight Family Farm. This came as a surprise to those not familiar with his upbringing on the family farm. However, as he stated in his resignation letter, “you can take a person out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of a person.” For the next 25 years, he and Pat owned and operated the Knight Family Farm. During those years, they had a son Jason and created many fond memories. His wife Pat passed away in August of 2013. Robert was a faithful husband of 47 years and a loving caregiver to Pat as she battled breast cancer. Robert always enjoyed cheering for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and there was always a hint of orange on his clothing, pickup, house, and garage, anything he owned in fact. He also enjoyed time at Lake Tenkiller. He could be found fishing or cleaning his boats. He even slalom skied long after he was “over the hill.” Later in life, he found Johnice Hall, and they were inseparable. They enjoyed traveling together and went on many adventures. She was at his side to the very end and cared for him with a love like no other. He is survived by Johnice Hall of the home and her family; son Jason and wife Lisa and their daughter Emma and son Jack all of Shawnee; sister Bette Bassford of Independence, Kansas; nephew Matt Lair and family of Dewey, Oklahoma; niece Julie Lair-Pester and family of Olathe, Kansas; and countless friends. The family will greet friends at Walker Funeral Chapel from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday January 6th, 2021. Services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday January 7th, 2021 with Pastor Justin Dunn officiating. Unfortunately services will be limited to family members only; however the service will be livestreamed on Facebook. There will be a graveside service directly following at Resthaven Memorial Park in Shawnee.