Carole Joyce Thoman Knight, 90, of Melbourne was born to Everette and Dorothy Thoman on November 7, 1934, in Vandalia, Illinois. She fell asleep in death on November 24, 2024, at her home in Melbourne, Arkansas
She was baptized on August 3, 1950, in New York City and served faithfully with the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses all of her life. On January 31, 1954, she married her husband of 60 years, Jack A. Knight. Together they enjoyed traveling the world, and were especially fond of meeting with fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses in each country they visited. Over the past 85 years, she delighted in obeying Jesus’ command to share the good news of God’s Kingdom with everyone she met (Matthew 24:14 and Mathew 6:10), including her neighbors in Izard County. She was privileged to serve, not just in the local congregation, but to support Jack in organizing large conventions for Jehovah’s Witnesses and taking part in the building of Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls all over the States.
She was also known as an excellent record keeper and businesswoman, working at banks in Chicago and Batesville from a very young age. She worked alongside Jack in many business ventures including insurance, logging, construction, HVAC. Most recently in 1969, they founded Silica Transport in Guion, Arkansas and later Mid-South Bulk Services at West Memphis, Arkansas, both of which are still owned and operated by the Knight family.
Carole took great joy in her role as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, nurturing her family and teaching the children of each generation. Her wisdom and guidance is something treasured by many. She was a generous and hospitable hostess; their home was lively and filled with the chatter and laughter of their guests.
She is survived by her brother Timothy Thoman, sister Joanne Klybor; son Jon Knight and his wife Leesa of Memphis, daughter Summer McHalffey and her husband Ron, son Jackson Knight and his wife Marianne, son James Knight and his wife LaDonna, daughter Ember Sisk and husband Jamie all of Melbourne, and son Joseph Knight of Dunedin, Florida. Other Survivors include ten grandchildren, Jessica Ringle and her husband Daniel of Bakersfield, California, Jonathan Knight and his wife Angela of Wallkill, New York; Kaci Apple and her husband Brandon of Batesville, Arkansas, Jared McHalffey and his wife Cassidy, Misty Knight, Cheyenne Cairns and her husband Rowan, Victoria Sisk all of Melbourne, Arkansas; Collin Sisk and his wife Kylee of Rogers, Arkansas; Ryan Knight and Chloe Knight of Florida; and nine great-grandchildren, Esther, Millicent, and Olenna Ringle of Bakersfield, California, Benjamin, Adalyn and Magnolia Apple of Batesville and Sawyer, Charlotte and Teagan Cairns of Melbourne.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jack and parents Everette and Dorothy Thoman, sister, Deloris Flager and brothers, William Thoman and Robert Thoman.
Visitation will be on Saturday, November 30, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home, Batesville, Arkansas, followed by a graveside service at Marcella Cemetery in Stone County Arkansas.
