Bettie Jo McKnight

Bettie Jo McKnight, 81, of Kerrville, Texas, was called home to the Lord's presence on May 7, 2019. She was born July 11, 1937, in Grundy County, Tennessee, and grew up a coal miner's daughter, one of five children. They never had much, but they had the Lord, church and each other. Their family would host the circuit-riding preacher every Sunday for fried chicken. Bettie's job was washing all the dishes, something she loved doing. It was around the eighth grade that Bettie went forward at a revival service and received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. During her high school years, she and two friends discovered they could harmonize well together. The "Three J's" entered a Goo Goo Cluster-sponsored contest and won! Their award was getting to sing on the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This was a dream come true. After graduating high school, Bettie moved to Nashville, mostly because of her love for country music. Soon, a tall, brown-eyed handsome man named John knocked on her door to "borrow a cup of sugar." They married a year later and celebrated 61 years of marriage this past January. Over the years, she worked for a brokerage house in Nashville, for an Edward Jones office in Springfield, Tennessee, and then had a second career at an auto parts manufacturing facility in Springfield called CEI. But, mostly, she worked at home as the consummate Proverbs 31 wife and mother. She actually loved to clean house! One of her favorite sayings was "Cleanliness is next to godliness." After 30 years in Springfield, John and Bettie move to Kerrville in August of 2014 to be closer to family. She was a longtime, active member of the First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and then Springfield, where she was greatly missed when they moved to Texas. She attended Kerrville Bible Church for as long as she was able before becoming homebound. She devoted her life to her husband, her two children, six grandchildren, extended family and her church. She was happiest when she could say, "we are all here together." She will be deeply missed by all who knew her gracious and sweet spirit. Her final years were marked by much physical pain and the challenges of dementia, but this didn't prevent her thankful spirit from shining through. She was always so grateful for every kindness. "Salt of the earth" and "light of the world" are apt descriptions of this much-loved woman. She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Teresa Gross; and her four siblings, Carl, Della, Lena and James. She is survived by her husband, John; two sons and their wives, Timm and Nancy and Chris and Kim, all of Kerrville; her six grandchildren, Jennifer McKnight, Kellie McKnight and husband Leighton Carden, Kasie and husband Matt Mowry, Caleb and wife Mary Catherine, Katie McKnight and Carson McKnight; and by her four great-grandchildren, Kolby, Konner, Kaden and Kynslee. The family will have a private burial service at Nichols Cemetery. A memorial service in her honor will be held at Kerrville Bible Church, 898 Harper Road, Kerrville TX 78028, on Saturday, May 18, at 2 p.m. Her son, Pastor Chris McKnight, will officiate. The family wishes to thank New Century Hospice for their care for Bettie the last six weeks. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Wright Funeral Parlor of Kerrville. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bettie Jo McKnight please visit our Sympathy Store.

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