George W. McKnight
George W. McKnight, age 78 years, 9 months, and 4 days, of Porter Springs, passed away Monday, December 3, 2018 at his home in Porter Springs, Texas. He was born February 22, 1940 in Livingston to parents, Hazel Jarrell McKnight and Clifton Colombus McKnight.
George was a member of Porter Springs Baptist Church serving as a deacon and worked for several years on the building and grounds committee. He was also the chairman of the food committee for a number of years and loved helping in the kitchen.
George joined the Air Force at age 17 and completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas afterward stationed in Maine. There he met and married Grace Luckman and were married for almost 40 years before she passed away in February, 1998.
George had several jobs after he left the Air Force which included driving a school bus. In 1964, he began working for Pratt and Whitney in Connecticut where he earned an apprenticeship as a Tool Application Development Operator. After retiring in October, 1999, he moved to Lufkin to be near to his family in Texas. In 2001, he met Mary Ann Cook and they were married April 5, 2002.
George never met a stranger and he enjoyed telling about his adventures at work and other facets of his life. He loved his family, church, friends and loved Mary Ann’s family accepting them as his own. Mary Ann’s son, Jeff, lovingly referred to him as, “Poppa George.”
George liked to hunt and fish, loved flowers and gardening and see things growing. But as his health started to fail him, he was not able to do a lot but he tried to keep up the yard.
In the past few months, he had been going to doctors having surgeries and battling kidney and bladder problems. One time when they came to take him to surgery, he told them, “You do what you have to do, if l don’t make it through this, don’t worry, you did your part, I know where I’m going and I am ready.”
We will miss his humor and adventurous tales but we would not call him back to his life of suffering and pain. We cherish all the sweet memories we have of this kind and generous soul.
George is survived by wife, Mary Ann McKnight of Porter Springs; son, George H. McKnight and wife, Pattie of Palm Bay, FL; stepsons, Charles Clinton Cook and wife, Ruth of Latexo, Jeff Cook of Porter Springs, Edward Cook and wife, Sheila of Latexo; grandchildren, George S. McKnight and Cammie Webb of Waterbury, CT, Douglas Cook and wife, Caitlin of Elgin, SC, Katie Stephens and husband, Kody of Crockett, Elizabeth Kellum and husband, Justin of Crockett, Emily Cook of Latexo; great- grandchildren, Hailey Rose McKnight, Kallie Stephens, Kade Stephens, Jaysie Cook, Gunner Cook, Jay Kellum, Jed Kellum, Journey Kellum; brother, Marvin E. McKnight and wife, May of Burke; sister, Dorothie Lowe of Livingston; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clifton and Hazel McKnight; wife, Grace Luckman McKnight; brothers, Harm Vinton McKnight, Dan Raymon McKnight, James L. McKnight; sisters, Ellen Long, Betty Thomas.
If George could speak to us today I think he would say, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Funeral services for George W. McKnight were held Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the Callaway-Allee Memorial Chapel with Rev. Wayne Stewart officiating. Interment followed in the Peebles Cemetery in Polk County. Family received friends for visitation Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Callaway-Allee Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Porter Springs Baptist Church.
Online condolences may be made at www.callawayallee.com
