Elsie Kathryn Knight

Elsie Kathryn Knight, 85, passed away peacefully at her home on April 25, 2025.

Born February 29, 1940, in Akron, Ohio, she attended Garfield High. In her youth, she volunteered as a candy striper at Akron City hospital. She worked at Max Factor in Los Angeles before returning to the area and becoming a full-time mother, homemaker, and devoted caretaker of her entire family. She was an excellent cook, talented at interior design, created extravagant holiday events, and organized regular fun activities and entertainment for the kids. Elsie was witty, quick with a joke, and loved for everyone to have fun. She enjoyed watching the kids in the pool, her flower gardening, listening to music, and traveling, especially to Hawaii. Above all, she honored her parents. She worked hard all her life, but always had time to listen and offer support and good advice. She looked for the good in everyone and had a gift for making people know their worth. Her beauty and grace will live on.

Elsie is preceded in death by her infant son, Michael; husband, Robert Knight; parents, Walter and Bonnie Mervine; sister, Patricia Hobbs; stepdaughter, Michelle Williams; stepdaughter-in-law, Kelli Knight; great-grandchildren, Aiden and Madisyn Slaughter; nephew, James Hobbs; niece, Bonnie Hobbs; great nephews, Ryan Hobbs, Mark McClelland and Jackson Kufchak; and great-nieces, Misty McClelland and Jaclyn Hobbs.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Rickie (Linda) Knight; daughters, Kellie (Rick) Cunningham and April Knight; stepsons, Ralph Knight and Rob (Kathy) Knight; grandsons, Michael (Marla) Knight, Joe (Beth) Knight, Joey Ahmed, Zachary, Benjamin and Aaron Knight; granddaughters, Christina Knight, Kaleigh Cunningham, Tammi Knight, Tiffany and Amber Williams; great-grandchildren, Adaline, Emerson, Abigail, Marc, Michael, Raelynn, Kayden, and Autumn Knight; nephew, Walter Hobbs; nieces, Mickie Brown, Terry (Alan) McKee; and JoAnna (Mark) McClelland ; great-nieces, Karia (Craig) Lanken, Mandy Bell, Patti (Jerome) Dean; Jamie (Dave) Medina; Sissy McClelland; Sara Hobbs, and Heather (Nick) Fling, as well as numerous great-nieces and nephews and extended family.

According to Elsie's final wishes, there will be a small remembrance held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to summitcasagal.org in honor of her devotion to children.

"Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the Spring becomes the rose."