Carol Knight

Carol Sue Knight, 76, went home to her Heavenly Father on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, after four years of failing health.

She was born Feb. 12, 1941, to Clarence Hezekiah and Virginia Marie Moore Ervin, who both preceded her in death, as well as her only sister, Shirley Ann Blaylock.

Carol loved life; especially the simple things of life such as family fish fries, sitting on the back porch swing, taking long car rides in the country and simply being surrounded by loved ones. She was also a talented but self-taught vocalist who sang in over 100 weddings and funerals. She was a member of The Sweet Adelines and The Choral Union at Southeast Missouri State University in her younger years. She was an active member of Bible Study Fellowship for several years, as well. She also loved scrapbooking and taking pictures of her beloved family and the things of nature, especially when she and her husband would travel.

Carol graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1958, and was a proud Tiger! She was a member of the marching band, in which she was first-chair flute; "The Girardot" yearbook staff, of which she was editor; typing club; and a candidate of several homecoming courts. Upon graduating from high school, Carol pursued full-time employment at First Federal Savings and Loan on Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Shortly thereafter, she met the love of her life, Frank Knight, and married in 1963. For the rest of her adult life, she was a homemaker, supportive wife and mother who never missed a single event of either of her children. She worked part time from the home doing bookkeeping for several local businesses and later worked at Southeast Hospital as the food service secretary and then in the personnel office for 10 years until she retired in 1997.

Carol was raised in First General Baptist Church of Cape and was a member there until 1999. She served in a variety of capacities, including church treasurer, Sunday-school teacher, vacation Bible school teacher, member of the Women's Missionary Society and member of the adult choir, singing in over 10 years of "Freedom Celebration," a patriotic musical the church produced for years.

In 1999, her family joined Lynwood Baptist Church, where she was a member until death. She was in the adult choir, and served on the personnel and decorating committees there. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was never happier than when she was singing his praises through hymns and worship songs in services each week until a series of massive strokes took her ability to sing in 2013.

Carol is survived by her husband and two children, Derek Knight and Tracy (Jimmy) Lohmeier; as well as four grandchildren, David and Savannah Knight and James Bryan and Caroline Lohmeier, all of Cape Girardeau. She also is survived by two sisters-in-law, Marian Clymer and Phyllis (Jerry) Schwab of Cape Girardeau. Carol was an aunt to four nieces and nephews, Mark (Pam) Blaylock of Cape Girardeau, Will (Jill) Blaylock of Eureka, Missouri, Jeffrey (Katie) Schwab of Kennesaw, Georgia, and Kelly (Scott) Drew of Waco, Texas; as well as 10 great-nieces and -nephews.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Lynwood Baptist Church.

A celebration of her life will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with Pastor Mark Anderson officiating. Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorial donations made in honor of Carol can be made to Lynwood Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.