Dena Mae McKnight, passed away peacefully at her home on June 27, 2020, with her family at her side. She is preceded in death by her parents, Dennis and Vivian O’Neal, her husband, William Lloyd McKnight, daughter DeLinda Ann McKnight, great-granddaughter Brystol Hollabaugh, and her siblings, Dennis, Dorothy, Doris, Dolletta, and Dale.
Dena was born on April 15, 1938, and raised in Marshall, TX. She grew up on a 110-acre farm with seven brothers and sisters. She loved the farm and always bragged how she would run barefoot in the grass. In fact, she ran barefoot for as long as she could regardless of where she went.
In January 1956, she married her late-husband, William Lloyd McKnight. In 1966 they settled in Mesquite, TX where she raised her three children. She had several hats in her day, working at the bakery, a machine-worker at IPM, and mom. She retired in 1984 to become a full-time homemaker and later raised two of her granddaughters beginning in early 1990’s. But she was first and foremost, a woman of faith.
She touched the lives of many through her kind heart and cheerful spirit. Her favorite thing in life were hugs, and if you had the pleasure to meet her, you know she gave hugs to everyone, no matter where she went. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, embroidery, and puzzles. She had a love for all fried food and ice cream. Through her last days, she ended every day by eating a big bowl of cherry ice cream, her favorite.
Dena is survived by her children, Billy and Sonya McKnight, James and Lorie McKnight, and Debbie Bruvold; her grandchildren Brandi Eversole, Julie and Brandon Hollabaugh, and DeLinda and Brenton Parker, along with five great-grandchildren, her siblings Delbert O’Neal and Don O’Neal, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She is greatly missed and loved by many.
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