Obituary for Jerry Dean Knight
Jerry
Dean Knight was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on August 1, 1937, to
Charlie and Vera (Worley) Knight. He passed away surrounded by family at
St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 12, 2019, at the age of 81
years 9 months and 11 days. He was a graduate of Bagley High School in
Tahlequah. Jerry joined the United States Air Force in 1955 where he
served his country, earning numerous medals, until his retirement in
1976. The majority of his time in the Air Force he served in an
Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit, including during his tour of Vietnam.
On September 19, 1959, he married Judy Auttelet in Abilene, Texas. The couple would have celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary this year. Jerry was very entrepreneurial, getting a taste of owning his own business, an ice cream truck, during his station in Las Vegas, Nevada. Upon his Air Force retirement, he moved his family back home to Tahlequah where he started Knight’s Home Improvement, operating this business until his second retirement in 1997. Jerry loved to travel, including stations in several foreign countries. He played various sports, including tennis, basketball, swimming and baseball well into adulthood. He raised race horses, enjoyed hunting, and loved his dogs, especially J.R. Jerry was very active in veteran affairs, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, and the 40 & 8. He served in many leadership roles, the including serving as the American Legion Post Commander and the 40 & 8 Oklahoma State Commander. He was recognized by the Cherokee Nation with the Cherokee Medal of Patriotism and served his community as a volunteer fireman for many years. In his later years he was an avid reader and history buff. Of all Jerry’s many activities his favorite role was as Papa to six grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Judy Knight Cragar, and son-in-law Gary Stopp. He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Judy of the home; son Charles Dean Knight of Dallas, daughters Anna Knight, Deborah Knight, and Tracie Vaughn and husband Coy, all of Tahlequah; grandchildren Amanda Houston, Lauren Harrison, William Woodward, Bailey Donaldson, Ryan Vaughn, and Jacob Vaughn, as well as great grandson Jameson Williams, a great granddaughter due in June, and many extended family members and friends.
Funeral services will take place at Green Country Funeral Home on Monday, May 20, at 2:00 pm with Reverend Charles Keim Officiating.
Visitation hours will be Sunday, May 19, from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Green Country Funeral Home.
Burial will take place in Tahlequah City Cemetery at a later date. Honorary Pall Bearers include Herb Rozell, Jack Teague, Johnny Copeland, Rick Rozell, Coy Vaughn, Hanceford Clayton, and Scott Cragar.
On September 19, 1959, he married Judy Auttelet in Abilene, Texas. The couple would have celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary this year. Jerry was very entrepreneurial, getting a taste of owning his own business, an ice cream truck, during his station in Las Vegas, Nevada. Upon his Air Force retirement, he moved his family back home to Tahlequah where he started Knight’s Home Improvement, operating this business until his second retirement in 1997. Jerry loved to travel, including stations in several foreign countries. He played various sports, including tennis, basketball, swimming and baseball well into adulthood. He raised race horses, enjoyed hunting, and loved his dogs, especially J.R. Jerry was very active in veteran affairs, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, and the 40 & 8. He served in many leadership roles, the including serving as the American Legion Post Commander and the 40 & 8 Oklahoma State Commander. He was recognized by the Cherokee Nation with the Cherokee Medal of Patriotism and served his community as a volunteer fireman for many years. In his later years he was an avid reader and history buff. Of all Jerry’s many activities his favorite role was as Papa to six grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Judy Knight Cragar, and son-in-law Gary Stopp. He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Judy of the home; son Charles Dean Knight of Dallas, daughters Anna Knight, Deborah Knight, and Tracie Vaughn and husband Coy, all of Tahlequah; grandchildren Amanda Houston, Lauren Harrison, William Woodward, Bailey Donaldson, Ryan Vaughn, and Jacob Vaughn, as well as great grandson Jameson Williams, a great granddaughter due in June, and many extended family members and friends.
Funeral services will take place at Green Country Funeral Home on Monday, May 20, at 2:00 pm with Reverend Charles Keim Officiating.
Visitation hours will be Sunday, May 19, from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Green Country Funeral Home.
Burial will take place in Tahlequah City Cemetery at a later date. Honorary Pall Bearers include Herb Rozell, Jack Teague, Johnny Copeland, Rick Rozell, Coy Vaughn, Hanceford Clayton, and Scott Cragar.
Visitation
MAY 19.
1:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Green Country Funeral Home
203 S. Commercial Rd. PO Box 2048
Tahlequah, OK, 74465
MAY 20.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Green Country Funeral Home Chapel
203 S. Commercial Rd
Tahlequah, OK
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