Clyde Eugene Knight

Eugene Knight, Sr., 81, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 11, 2015 after fighting illness courageously for 11 years. Mr. Knight was born in Harrison County and was a lifetime resident of Hallsville, Texas. He was born September 7, 1934 to Clyde Austin and Lillian Perry Knight. Mr. Knight worked for over 55 years in the wholesale beverage business. He was an active member of Hallsville First United Methodist Church for many years. Mr. Knight was known for sharing Jesus in a unique way with people he met, especially those who served him in restaurants. He would leave a generous tip and a pocket cross with the poem, “The Cross in My Pocket” by Verna Thomas. One of Mr. Knight’s favorite things was being surrounded by family and friends. He had a special place in his heart for his grandkids and was always instrumental and inspirational to their education. Mr. Knight was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Helen Nadine Knight and Lillian Virginia Carswell; and a brother, Jimmie Carroll Knight. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Betty Emma Price Knight. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of seventeen and a half years, Billie Jean Belote Knight; son Gene Knight, Jr. (Donna) of Kilgore; daughter Lana Knight Bowen (Kim) of Montgomery, TX; daughter Sheila Knight Carlisle (Bubba) of Hallsville; daughter Lisa Knight of Longview; and daughter Karen Knight Kaster (Greg) of Cypress, TX. His surviving stepchildren are Mike Riordan (Carla) of Shreveport, and Terri Sayers (Marvin) of Tyler. He is also survived by two brothers, Reagan Knight (Janet) and Steve Knight (Annette) of Longview, and sister-in-law Brenda Cobb (Eddie) of Jefferson. Mr. Knight is also survived by grandchildren David Knight (Evonne) of Longview; Chas Carlisle (Amy) of Marietta, TX; Chase Carlisle (Julia) of Hanover, New Hampshire; Alison Bowen of Shell, Ecuador; Luke Bowen of The Woodlands, TX; Katie Carlisle Smith (Clay) of San Bernardino, CA; and Jake and Jason Kaster of Cypress, TX. Surviving step-grandchildren include Samantha McCarson of Austin, TX; Dalton McCarson of Abilene, TX; Chris Riordan (Angela), Steven Riordan (Gina), Lisa Lockwood (Cody) and Hope Sparks all of Shreveport; Megan Sayers of College Station, TX and Mason Sayers of Tyler. Mr. Knight has 11 great-grandchildren and another one due in March 2016. The family would like to express special thanks to Kevin Barker, Tina Buckner, and Chelsea Freeman for their exceptional and loving care of Mr. Knight during his illness. The family will receive friends Thursday, October 15 from 5-7pm at Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Services will be Friday, October 16, 10am at First United Methodist Church, 1256 West Main, Hallsville, TX with Reverend Troy Bayne and Reverend Brian Brooks officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park in Longview. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to FUMC First Friends, P. O. Box 365, Hallsville, TX 75650. A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com

Clyde Eugene Knight

September 7, 1934 - October 11, 2015