Euris Freeman McKnight, Jr., 73, of Hernando, Mississippi, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on December 15, 2022. Mac, as most people knew him, grew up in Memphis and lived there most of his life. Sixty years ago this past summer he met the love of his life, Sandy Simpson McKnight. Mac’s family had purchased the house next door, and he went to mow the lawn before the move.
He went home that day and told his mother he’d met the girl he was going to marry! A few short years later Mac and Sandy became husband and wife. Tina and Tanya completed their sweet family, and Mac loved being a dad. Taking family vacations, teaching his daughters to ride a bike, drive a stick shift, and change a tire gave them special times together. He inspired their love of travel and made them laugh with the many corny dad jokes he told. A year ago Mac retired from FedEx as a Systems Analyst III, where he worked in pilot training. Known as “The Sifter,” Mac excelled in details and finding the problems in the computer programs he and his colleagues created. He had a lifelong enjoyment of machines and technology and particularly delighted in go carts, motorcycles, video cameras, and computers. Mac was very creative and artistic. He painted, did needlepoint, and designed numerous projects. Mac was a Christian with a strong faith that grew and expanded even more during his final illness. He loved his country and served in the United States Navy for 12 years. He leaves his wife, Sandra Simpson McKnight, and his daughter Tanya McKnight, of Hernando.
He also leaves his daughter Christina “Tina” Higgins and son-in-law William “Bill” Higgins of Dunedin, Florida, two sisters, Carolyn Churchill of Bartlett, TN, and Linda Maupin of Berea, KY, and one brother, Eddie “Shorty” McKnight of Memphis. In addition, he leaves an assortment of family, friends, and colleagues who have loved and supported him, especially in this last year. The family requests that donations be made to St. Jude in lieu of flowers because they do so much to improve the lives of patients with blood cancers.
A visitation for Mac will be held Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A committal service will occur Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the McKnight family.
