Stacy Mcknight

Funeral services for Stacy McKnight, 88, of Lufkin will be held Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel in Lufkin with Mr. Paul Hillier and Mr. Hershel Bearden officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Mr. McKnight was born the oldest of four children to Floyd and Clara (Bramlet) McKnight on December 6, 1922 in Luxora, Arkansas. Although he was born in Arkansas, Stacy was raised and spent most of his younger adult life in Louisiana. As the oldest child in a dry land cotton farming family, he was called upon to do heavy farming chores along with tending to the needs of other family members. He attended and graduated with honors from high school in Enterprise, Louisiana before entering the Civilian Conservation Corp. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as a fire control technician aboard a destroyer escort in the Pacific theater during World War II. After his honorable discharge, Stacy enrolled in Louisiana State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and graduated in June 1950. He remained a lifelong supporter of the purple and gold Tigers. After graduation, he joined the Louisiana Highway Department, followed by 33 years of service with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. Upon retirement from the Corps, Stacy married Eileen, moved to Lufkin, and became active in the senior citizens advocacy program, where he served tirelessly with the Angelina County Senior Citizens Center, Deep East Texas Council of Government Regional Advisory Council, Texas Department on Aging Citizens Advisory Council and several senior care centers. Stacy was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed the beauty of nature and was well versed in animal husbandry and horticulture. He was also a good cook. Stacy was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ, and faithfully attended the Angelina Church of Christ. His love of people and service to the elderly made valuable contributions to the Lufkin senior community. Stacy McKnight passed from this life Friday, October 21, 2011 in Lufkin, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Betty Sue; and a brother, Stanley.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 29 years, Eileen; son and daughter-in-law, Thayne and Joan McKnight; daughters and sons-in-law, Connie and Dan Ford and Patricia and Charles White; a sister, Estelle Connor; along with eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and special friend, Carey Campbell. He will be missed by family, friends, associates and East Texas senior citizens.

Pallbearers will be Todd McKnight, Trent McKnight, Troy McKnight, Paul White, Bartlett Wilson, Jonathan White, Stacy P. White and Joey Fonfara.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Fair, Alex Weatherford, Tom Crater, Joe Ben Vaughan, Jesse LeMay and Mick Perkins.

Memorial contributions in memory of Stacy may be made to the Angelina Church of Christ, 208 Christie Street, Lufkin, Texas 75904 or Hospice in the Pines, 1504 West Frank Avenue, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

Special thanks are extended from the family to Dr. Carlton Lewis and his staff, Lauren Capps, and Beck Batson.

The family will receive friends prior to the service Saturday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.