James Edward Knight, Sr., 82 of Albany, passed away on Wednesday August 12th, 2015 at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House in Albany, Oregon.
The son of John Green Knight and Jessie May (Blair) Knight, he was born at home in Ninnekah, Oklahoma. James was the middle child of eleven children. He was known as "the peacemaker" of the large family.
He was preceded in death by his parent and son, James Edward Knight Jr.; two brothers, John Jr. and Eugene; three sisters, Dorothy McCracken of Lawton, OK, Vivian Garner of Pomona, CA, and Mary Lynch of Geronimo, OK.
James joined the U.S. Navy on Sept. 16, 195 at age seventeen. He served aboard the U.S.S. Borie D.D. 704 during the Korean War. He received an Honorable Discharge on Jan. 15, 1954 as a 2nd Class Petty Officer.
He had met Gladys Arlene Cloud through his sister LaVerne and church family while on a 30-day leave. This led to a snail-mail romance. He proposed by mail and sent her engagement ring by mail.
He married Gladys on March 6th, 1953 at the Bethel Assembly of God Church in Lawton, OK by the Reverend Claud Davis. She then joined him in Portsmouth, VA.
After James' discharge, he was blessed with a daughter. Brenda Joyce Knight was born Jan. 24, 1955 in Lawton, OK. The family moved to Chino, CA in 1956 to join Gladys' mother and children. On Nov. 9th, 1957, in Pomona, CA. he was blessed with the birth of a son, James Edward Knight Jr.
James went to work for Convair in Pomona, CA, then worked for Hughes Ground Systems in Fullerton, CA for 20 years. While there, he attended night school at Fullerton Jr. College and received his diploma with a cap and gown ceremony. He also took some college accounting classes.
James taught Sunday school class in Chino, CA for years and also in Buena Park, CA. He spent his lunch hour studying his weekly Sunday school lessons.
James was BLESSED during his long stay at the Mennonite Village facility to meet a Brother in the Lord in Clarence Parker. James saw Clarence carrying his bible and said, "Praise the Lord Brother!" This was the beginning of a friendship that consisted of several hours a week with Brother Clarence reading the bible and praying with James. This eventually led to a ministry with other patients as well. Proverbs 27:17 in the King James Bible: "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend". Proverbs was his favorite book.
He was blessed with nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Amber (Davidson) McGuire and husband Gary and sons Garrett and Gavin; Autumn (Davidson) Howells and husband Justin and son Jayden; Austin and Ross Hensley; Jennifer Knight and daughter Savannah Jansma; Daniel Knight and son Devin; Matthew Knight, wife Maira and son Jordan; Jonathan Knight and Katie Knight.
Many nephews and nieces survive.
An open casket viewing and graveside service will take place at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19 at the Sandridge Cemetery in Lebanon, OR. Brother Clarence Parker is officiating. Military honors will take place at the graveside.
Donations can be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice in Albany, OR.