NEIL DUANE KNIGHT, age 79, of Creal Springs, IL, passed away at 5:49 a.m., on Monday, March 14, 2011, in Herrin Hospital of Herrin, IL.

Neil the son of Clarence E. and Thelma Ruth (CHAMBLISS) Knight was born on April 15, 1931, in Mt. Vernon, IL.He attended school in Mt. Vernon and was a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School.

He was united in marriage to Eva Lee Sinks on April 8, 1951, in Mt. Vernon, IL, and together they shared over fifty-three years of marriage until her death on June 27, 2004.

Neil answered the call of the nation by enlisting into the United States Air Force and after his period of faithful service he was honorably discharged with the rank of Airman First Class. His working career was as a machinist working in the mining industry.

Neil was an avid reader and especially loved reading science fiction books. He enjoyed Cat’s and other theater productions. He was a baseball fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Southern Illinois Miners team of Marion. He always enjoyed following the activities of his family and especially of his grandson, Dustin who was an All Star High School Basketball Player and received a basketball scholarship at Shawnee College and is now a teacher at Washington Grade School in Marion. He enjoyed eating at Western Sizzler where his grandson, Christopher works. His family was most important to him and he always enjoyed the times they shared together, especially with his grandchildren, and he enjoyed the company of his dog, Bear. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by three sons, Duane Knight of Marion, IL, Darrell Knight of Creal Springs and Larry Knight of Herrin, IL; three daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn and Gary Bush and Lola and Robert Wolaver all of Marion, IL and Rita Diane and Michael Simmons of Creal Springs, IL; grandsons, Christopher Knight and Dustin Knight who he raised as his own sons after the death of their father, Jerry Knight and twelve other grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; one great great-grandson; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Herbert Denham of Mt. Vernon, IL, other family members and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Eva; son, Jerry Knight on May 27, 2001; granddaughter, Robin Knight in January of 1993; sister, RITA LaVONNE KNIGHT and two brothers, NOEL DEAN CHAMBLISS and Marvin Knight.

Arrangements for Neil D. Knight were entrusted to the Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court Street, of Marion, IL.

A time of visitation for family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 18th at the funeral home.

The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home with Rev. Keith Owens presiding.

Interment will follow in Webb Cemetery of Tunnel Hill, IL.

Source: Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 1930
Submitted by: Mary Zinzilieta