Shirlene Knight 1938-2023

Shirlene Knight passed away on a Thursday evening, Nov. 30. She led a vibrant life and left an impression on everyone she met.

Born on April 15, 1938, Shirlene was the daughter of Odessa and Crow Leach. In her early years she lived in many places, moving  a dozen times before finding herself in the vicinity of Weatherford. She learned to adapt to circumstance and developed her talents creating beautiful clothes for herself and a lifelong culinary gift. Her imagination and empathy were fired by her lifelong devotion to books and education.

In 1956, Shirlene Knight graduated valedictorian from Millsap High School. She went on to receive B.A., masters and doctorate degrees in education. She maintained a 4.0 in her studies until a dreaded statistics doctoral class stung her for her first B. Shirlene taught special education at Mineola Elementary for almost 40 years and was named Teacher of the Year in 2009. She made lasting contributions working with Special Olympics for decades and always taught cooking every Friday afternoon to the benefit of her students and colleagues who ‘happened’ to drop by.

Shirlene was married to Dr. Bill Knight for 63 years. Always up for an all-night conversation, ruthless board game or preparing a feast, she was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. 

Known for a sharp wit and strong desire to stand up for what was right, Dr. Shirlene L. Knight will be remembered for her mischievous smile, ready laugh and terrific skills. We miss her now and forever.

Shirlene is survived by sons, Matt, Scott and Joe; grandchildren, Becca, Bethanne and Hannah; great-grandchildren, McKenna and Dean; and a host of relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by Bill Knight, the love of her life.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Methodist Church in Mineola. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. at Holder’s Chapel in Cool. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects and celebrate Shirlene’s life.

The family is grateful for all the wonderful memories and love expressed to us in recent months. 2023 was a tough year, but Shirlene and Bill, Mom and Dad, Mom Mom and Pop Pop, gave us a lifetime of love and strength. That will see us through.

We love you mom, Dr. Shirlene L. Knight, you were something special.