Robin Lynne Knight

Robin Lynne Knight (neé Moore), of Kansas City, MO, left this world on September 8, 2023, as a result of lung cancer complications. But Robin would never want that to be how we remember her – so let’s take a look at the remarkable life she lived.

Born December 5, 1964, in Kansas City, MO, Robin spent most of her childhood outside her family’s small farm in Pleasant Hill, getting into trouble with her two brothers. She raised chickens and rabbits, rode dirt bikes and motorcycles, and frequently adventured outside with friends. In 1975, Robin was one of the first two girls to play Little League baseball in Pleasant Hill. She attended Pleasant Hill High School, class of 1983, where she played varsity volleyball and basketball, was a clarinet player in the marching band, and was a member of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Robin attended the University of Missouri from 1983 to 1987, where she earned her degree in Fine Arts and Journalism, and was a member of the Tri Delta Sorority.

Robin and her former husband, Allan Knight, had two daughters who were her entire world and the joys of her life – Emily (born 1990) and Katie (born 1995). She was a fantastic mother who intentionally taught her girls their innate value and worth, instilled values of integrity, playfulness, empathy, and hard work, and who dropped absolutely anything she was working on to be by their side when they needed her. She was wise beyond her years and offered thoughtful counsel to her girls (and many others!) through seasons of transition, uncertainty, and grief. She was fiercely protective, endlessly comforting, and the most thoughtful mother her girls could have ever asked for.

Robin’s career in advertising for more than 30 years was formidable and impressive. In addition to being the first female creative director at Barkley, she also led Bernstein-Rein to one of their biggest new business years with the win of PetSmart, all in her first year as Lead Strategist. Over the years, her work was short-listed at the Cannes Film Festival, won a Communication Arts Ad Annual, and won Best of Show KC. In her most recent position of Senior VP of Brand Planning at EP+Co, she contributed to significant business growth including adding Planet Oat to their roster with a launch campaign that was recognized by The Drum. She was also the trusted planning lead on several General Mills brands, Bojangles, and Newell Brands. And yet, even with these impressive accolades and recognition, her greatest career accomplishment was leading and mentoring the many people placed under her care over the years. As one former coworker said, Robin was relentless in pursuit of good ideas, but more than anything she championed her people, and helped them see their own talent and expect more of themselves.

If her advertising career wasn’t enough – and running nine marathons (!) in her 30s, 40s, and 50s – during the last 10 years of her life, Robin dove headfirst into the world of starting, owning, and operating a small business. When both of her daughters were diagnosed with celiac disease and Robin noted the dismal quality of store-bought gluten-free products, she had a thought – “I could do better than this.” And she certainly did. In spite of having no professional culinary training nor any small business experience, Robin founded Emily Kate’s Bakery, where everything is gluten free and it actually tastes delicious. She test baked and perfected every recipe (with PLENTY of flops in the process), wrote her own business plan, and formed every partnership. In the early days of the bakery, Robin would wake up at 3:30, go to the shop and bake a few things, run deliveries to local coffee shops and stores, and then head to her day job at 8. Today, Emily Kate’s products are in Whole Foods and Dierbergs grocery stores across the country, numerous coffee shops and stores in the Kansas City area, and has a thriving retail business.

Robin’s friends and family describe her as passionate, a force of nature, larger than life, strong, smart as hell, one-of-a-kind, genuine, a maverick, warm, loving, and a creative genius. She was a champion of the underdog, the perfect balance of confident and gentle, relentlessly optimistic, and a light to all she encountered. Her adventurous spirit, thoughtfulness, empathy, and generosity will be deeply and sorely missed.

Robin is survived by her daughters, Emily Spillane (neé Knight) (husband Chris and daughter Ellen) of Atlanta, GA, and Katie Knight (husband Zach Skarshaug) of Kansas City, MO; her father, Everett Moore; brothers Allen Moore (wife Paige) and Bryan Moore (wife Laura); along with four dear nieces, aunts and uncles, many cousins, and close friends from all stages of her life. She was preceded in death by her mother, Holly Moore (Anquillare).

While all of Robin’s surviving family is devastated and permanently grieved by her passing, they find hope and comfort in their shared faith in Jesus, and their impending reunification on the day of Christ’s return. Robin firmly, deeply, and passionately believed in the truth of the gospel, and did all she could to reflect the love and light of Jesus in how she spent her days and treated the people she encountered. Her hope was in the promise that the sorrows of this world are temporary, and that someday soon God will undo every evil committed and every bit of pain suffered. We yearn for the day when God will usher in the era of New Creation, and we will be reunited with Robin for eternity.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 14 from 5-7 p.m. at Jacob’s Well Church, 1617 W 42nd St., Kansas City, MO 64111. A memorial service followed by a reception will be held on Friday, September 15 at 1 p.m., also at Jacob’s Well. A private, family-only interment service will be held at Mt. Moriah Cemetery following the reception. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to be made to the following organizations – Mother’s Refuge, a local organization whose mission is to shelter and educate mothers in need; and/or Mission Adelante, a nonprofit ministry that supports communities of refugees and immigrants around Kansas City.

Do you have photos or memories of Robin that you’re willing to share? Please send us an email at [email protected].

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mtmoriah.net for the Knight family.