Roy Converse McKnight

MCKNIGHT, ROY CONVERSE – age 87 of Karns, passed away on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at Methodist University Medical Center in Oak Ridge surrounded by his family. Roy was born on October 11, 1924 in Florida to the late James Ralph and Inez Hall McKnight. Upon completion of high school and serving as a Merchant Marine in WWII, he came to Oak Ridge to work at the Y-12 Plant. That's where he met the love of his life, Frances Nadine Rogers, who he courted and wed at the Chapel on the Hill in Oak Ridge on September 12, 1948. They were blessed to have shared 61 years together. Moving to Karns in 1963, Roy and his family joined Grace Baptist Church and for the past 49 years Roy remained active and faithful in his church, serving on numerous committees, as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and Training Union Superintendent. Roy retired from Y-12, serving as a mechanical engineer for close to 35 years, and began devoting more time to his precious grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; their son, Donald Wayne McKnight; brothers, Harry and Joe McKnight; sister, Ella Mae Hammett; and brother-in-law, Wayne Noe all of Knoxville. Roy is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Donna McKnight of Greenville, North Carolina; daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Barry Robertson of Karns, grandsons, Ryan McKnight, Shawn, Eric, Reuben, Kevin and Coger Robertson; granddaughter, Stacey McKnight; sister and brother-in-law, Caroylea and Leonard Bowers; sister, Ruth Noe; sisters-in-law, Judy McKnight and Ann McKnight; brother-in-law, Charlie Hammett; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. A funeral service will be held at Central Baptist Church, Bearden on Wednesday, September 5 at 2:00 P.M. with The Reverend Alfred Royer and Rev. Mark Moreland officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service at the church, 12:00 – 1:45 PM. Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel (www.rosemortuary.com) is handling the service. Grandsons will be pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to The Gideons International, Knoxville-Southwest Camp, P.O. Box 31567, Knoxville, Tennessee 37930-1567.

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Roy Converse McKnight

October 11, 1924 - September 2, 2012