Ann Payne Knight

Ann was born in Waco, Texas on February 27, 1923, to Micajah and Era Payne. She attended Waco schools where she loved singing in the choir and playing clarinet in band. She married Emmett C. McLarty, Jr. class of ‘43 at Texas A&M. In 1947, after several years in Ellisville, Mississippi, she moved to Bryan, Texas. Active in First United Methodist Church, she was a member of the Chancel Choir and the Neighborly Class. She retired from the Texas A&M University system where her favorite position was librarian’s assistant in Cushing Memorial Library. Ann (Mother) spent more than seven decades raising her daughter (me) both in Bryan and continuing in Plano after moving here in 2013.

Once known as a cut-throat Chinese checker player, after marriage she mellowed to a pleasant “42” and Bridge partner. Many warm, lifelong friendships were formed around those tables. Her other favorite pastimes were fishing, maintaining a lovely yard and flower beds, and running the vacuum cleaner.

We will honor her life and celebrate her wonderful spirit when we remember to

let our friends know how glad we are to hear from them;

dress up for church, but don’t wear white after Labor Day;

show we care by suggesting a more flattering hair color to a friend;

eat ice cream, chocolate, and Coke floats;

shop tirelessly for hours on end;

enjoy the ride, whether it’s to see the dogwoods blooming or visit family in Chattanooga;

and especially, to tell our loved ones how much we love them, over and over again.

I sincerely appreciate the lifelong friendship of Mack and Jeane McGown of Bryan. Gary Rogers of McKinney has been the behind the scenes friend – being a good listener, offering wise counsel, and moving heavy furniture – to help give Mother a comfortable lifestyle in Plano. Special thanks to loving caregivers Sharon Byrd, Mary Koo, Aika Assey, Lillian Spraggins, Gracy Zachariah, and Betty Crawford in memoriam.

As we move through our own Golden Years, I hope we accommodate life’s changes with Mother’s grace and dignity.