Shirley Savage Knight

Knight, Shirley McKay Savage A fourth generation Tampa native, passed away Thursday, September 18, 2014 at Tampa General Hospital where she was also born on October 18, 1928. She was the daughter of the late Kenneth I. McKay Sr. and Olive Petty McKay. She was also predeceased by husbands William O. Savage and Charles L. Knight II, brothers Kenneth I. McKay Jr. and Herbert G. McKay. She is survived by son Arthur R. Savage, daughter Betsy Savage Croney (Edward), brother Howell A. McKay (Joan), stepsons Charles L. Knight III (Barbara) and Donald Knight. Grandchildren Kerri and Courtney Croney; Billy, Kate, Sarah, and Laura Savage and Fay Knight. She also leaves behind several devoted nieces and nephews. Shirley attended Gorrie, Wilson, and Plant High Schools and graduated from Florida State University in 1950. Upon graduation, she taught at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School until her marriage to William O. Savage. Following his death in 1982, she became President of A.R. Savage & Son Inc., Steamship Agents and Freight Forwarders in the Port of Tampa. During this time, she served as Honorary Consul for Denmark and Norway and was knighted by both countries for Outstanding Service. As an active member of the Port of Tampa, she served on the Local and National Boards of the Propeller Club. In 1986 the Local Propeller Club named her “Maritime Person of the Year.” In 2002, the Tampa Port Authority awarded her the Captain James McKay Lifetime Achievement Award for the Port of Tampa. She served on the Tampa Convention Center Board and the Board of Governors of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, chairing its Port Development Council for two terms. In the field of education, she was a past member of the University of Tampa Board of Trustees and the University of South Florida Foundation Board. After her retirement she was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Seniors in Service, and Mary Lee’s House. Shirley was Queen of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla in 1952 and a member of Chi Omega Fraternity, where she was voted in the Top Four Village Vamps at Florida State University. In 2011 she was the Honoree of the Betty Castor Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the World Trade Center of Tampa Bay for her work in international trade. Memorial Service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 906 South Orleans Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33606 on Thursday, September 25th at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish to make a contribution please send in the name of Shirley McKay Savage Knight to: Mary M. McKay Nursing Scholarship University of Tampa – Development Office 401 West Kennedy Blvd. Box – H Tampa, Florida 33606. The most important things in Shirley’s life were always God, her family, and her friends. We know she would want to be remembered this way.