Preceded in death by her parents, beloved son Ronald Lee Koontz, brothers Guy Lawrence Padgett Jr and James Benjamin Padgett, granddaughter Connie Elizabeth Rosner, great-granddaughter Audrey Barragan and step-granddaughter Addison Haney.
Survived by her devoted husband of 45 years, Michael Thomas Knott, sons Kris Koontz and wife Helen, Karl “Alan” Koontz and wife Nancy, daughter Karen Lynn Harvick, step-daughter Katie Haney, 21 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandsons.
Charline was born to Guy “Padge” Lawrence Padgett and Cornelia Henrietta (Jacobson) Padgett, after her parents and two older brothers moved from Chicago, Illinois to Casper Wyoming. She had a special relationship with her family and early on acquired the nickname “Tootie” from her father and uncle “Scoop”. Like her father she had a quick wit and dry sense of humor, she was always one for a practical joke and usually the instigator or creator of the jokes. Char grew up in Casper until her family relocated to Seattle, Washington and then Redondo Beach, CA when she was a teenager. She then lived in Hawthorn, CA where she met her first husband Don R. Koontz. They had four children together and remained close friends until he passed away on May 26, 2016. She met and married her partner and confidant Michael Thomas Knott on October 8, 1977. Also known as “Papa Mike”, he loved and cared for her, never leaving her side while honoring her wishes to hospice at home until her passing.
Throughout her life she also lived in Carmel Valley, Salinas, Prunedale, Clovis and Bass Lake. She lived an incredible, full life and she was an extremely successful business owner for over 70 years. Char worked hard, enjoyed life and shared her blessings as she was extremely generous to her family. She loved to travel as she traveled the world, to include two trips to the Kentucky Derby and countless trips to Mexico and cruises. For many years she was a volunteer at CHOMP in Monterey, CA and eventually served on the Board of Directors. She was the President of the Ladies Auxiliary for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Marina View Dock Association at Bass Lake, CA. She belonged to the American Legion, Cal Western and the California Appaloosa Horse Racing Boards. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t do from learning to fly a plane, painting from watching Bob Ross on TV, to realizing her unexpected natural talent as a horseshoe player and surviving breast cancer. She was always up for an adventure, never afraid to try something new and strived to be the best. She had a passion for horses as she purchased, bred and raced horses in the 80s and 90s. She enjoyed fishing, camping, swimming, golfing, water and snow skiing, playing cards, entertaining, designing, remodeling and building homes. She was extremely involved and supported her family’s academics and activities. She was a great mentor and teacher and took pride in teaching her four children and most of her grandchildren to swim and ski. She was the best story teller and relied on her incredible memory and her ability to recall minute details when telling the best stories. Her fantastic sense of humor gave her the gift of being able to find something positive and making you laugh even in the worst situations. She loved the holiday seasons where she took great pride in decorating, entertaining, gift giving and most importantly creating everlasting memories and traditions for her family.
Char will be remembered for being glamorous as she was rarely seen without lipstick on or freshly painted nails, an avid football and Giants baseball fan, who unconditionally loved her family, her loyal and loving husband and dog Buddy. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. She was truly the matriarch of her family and she will FOREVER be with us in our hearts and our thoughts.
Family and friends are invited to the graveside services at El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Gove, California on Thursday, October 6th at 12:30 pm.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thepaulmortuary.com for the Knott family.
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