Bonita Knight's Obituary
How does a family say goodbye to their mother? On July 28, 2021 our dear mother Bonita Knight received her angel wings and peacefully left this world for her heavenly home. Awaiting her arrival with open arms is the love of her life, Roy Knight, with whom she shared 62 blessed years of marriage. Joining dad to greet mom is her mother and father, Elizabeth and John Winter, her brother, Lyle Winter, and her sister Janet Winter.
Bonita was born September 26, 1926 in Pinckneyville, IL to John and Elizabeth Emling Winter. She was the eldest child of the family with five brothers and sisters, Lyle Winter, Merle Winter, Delores Winter Higgerson, Joyce Winter Stine and Janet Winter. On May 23, 1946, she married the love of their life, Roy Knight who passed away January 13, 2009. They shared many wonderful years together and she cherished those busy years with their three boys, Mark, Jon and Galen. Before staying home to raise her boys, Bonita was a teacher at a one room school house in Cudgetown. Her account of those days teaching is featured in the book, "One-Room Schoolhouses of Perry County, IL". She also worked for Blue Bell in DuQuoin.
Bonita leaves many friends, neighbors and relatives to mourn her passing from our lives. Among them are daughters-in-law Zena Knight and Nancy Knight; grandchildren Melissa, Jennifer (Nikki) and Joshua (Kayla) Knight. She leaves two beautiful great grandchildren, Jericho and Evie Knight.
Bonita was a long-time member of St. John's United Church of Christ in DuQuoin. Bonita was kind and gentle and good to everyone around her. She will best be remembered as someone who loved her church, her Lord and her family and would do anything for them. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother who enjoyed taking care of her family, dancing, reading books, listening to music and gardening her tomatoes.
Now to answer the question at the beginning - how do we say goodbye? We can't. She will live within each of us as we go on without her. We'll remember the good times when she was young and healthy, taking a walk, baking a cake for the church or wrapping fun gifts for Christmas bingo. We'll cherish the memories of her as we let her go into the arms of the ones waiting for her.
Funeral services will be held at Pyatt Funeral Home, DuQuoin, IL on Friday, July 30, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dan McKinnies officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park, DuQuoin, IL.
Visitation will be at Pyatt Funeral Home, DuQuoin, IL on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ, DuQuoin, IL.
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