Obituary of Margaret F. Knight

Margaret Flotell Knight was born on September 23, 1929 in Oklahoma City to Edna Mae (Clark) Lingenfelter and Forrest Merle Lingenfelter, M.D. Margaret passed from this life peacefully on Monday, November 10, 2014 with her beloved daughters and husband at her side. Margaret was one of the first female graduates from the University of Oklahoma Geology Department. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Margaret worked as a geologist, real estate agent, tax accountant and was a published author. She lived in Okmulgee for many years where she started the Okmulgee Service League, which contributed so much to the small town, including creating a teen center. Margaret enjoyed golf and won 5 Okmulgee Country Club championships. She served on the Okmulgee Hospital Board. She met Al Knight who was representing Okmulgee Hospital. She always said “He won the lawsuit and won my heart.” She subsequently moved and she and Al spent many happy years in Sperry, OK on their ranch. Eventually they moved to Tulsa. Margaret, who was always interested in contributing to her community, subsequently served as President of the volunteer group at the Gilcrease Museum or Gillies. Margaret and Al established the Alyson Marie Knight Memorial Endowed Scholarship that created a legacy that provides an educational opportunity for Rogers State University students. They received the Presidential Salute in 2009 from Rogers State University for all of their support. Margaret was always interested in making things better – whether it was herself, her family or the community. Always serving and contributing, she was willing to work hard to get things done. She was a firm believer that education was the way to success. As she once said, “We’re delighted to give a helping hand to RSU students because you can’t succeed in this world without an education.” Margo and Gwen say it was their parents who gave them the vision to become physicians. Women physicians in the early 70’s were very rare. Advanced education was an expectation for all their children. Being a spirited, lively personality, she never gave up on any project. Always being able to laugh at herself was one of her great personality traits. She was a generous and loving mother and wife. She will be missed so much by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Mary and granddaughter Alyson Marie Knight. Margaret is survived by her beloved husband of 44 years, Alfred Bishop Knight; her brother, Robert Lingenfelter; daughters, Margo Uri Simmons, M.D., Bobbie Gwen Uri, M.D., sons, Alfred Knight, Jr., M.D., James P. Knight, Ph.D, Grover Earl Knight and Mary Beth Knight; grandchildren, Leslie Simmons Pierson, Greg and Tony Minardo, Meredith, Jordan and Brian Knight and Laura Snyder. Great grandchildren, Margo, Demi and Hunter Pierson, Owen and Brandy Minardo, Hannibal Windler, Paige, Liz and Tyler Snyder; nephews Larry and Mike Neal and numerous cousins. Service 10:00 A.M. Thursday November 13, 2014 at Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel, 5111 South Memorial Drive, followed by a graveside ceremony with receiving of friends and family at the home of Mr. Al Knight, 3409 East 58th Place, Tulsa from noon to 3PM. Grandmother Margaret and I got our first email addresses at just about the same time. I think that speaks volumes about her bravery in life, which carried right into adopting new technology at the pace of a teenager. I was just starting my college application process and sent her my essays to read, one of which she remembered so specifically she nearly quoted it back to me a decade later, asking me with my own words to think more critically about an issue. During that same time, my high school boyfriend, who I felt likely to marry, and I broke up. I was extremely upset and Margaret shared from her own life experiences. She told me that rarely in life is an opportunity ever absolutely lost, they often cycle around again. It would be to my advantage to move forward she said and capitalize on it next time, if I still wanted to, because looking to the past would not provide answers or a solution. She was right. Margaret was the first adult to treat me fully like one myself. It was surprising and sometimes tough, much like she was. I still haven’t fully grasped the lesson. She had the same reaction when I left the sciences to become a writer. She overflowed confidence on my behalf. She read and commented on every story I sent her, forever interested in learning new ideas and using her curiosity to connect them. It's hard to effectively describe the strength of Margaret's love and support, but it's something like having the sun pick you up on your toes and blow you forward. For me, Margaret will always remind me to stick up for myself, to value my assets and to view myself as an expert even if I don’t feel like one yet. When I think of Margaret I pick out a brighter color to wear, I speak up a little more and laugh a little louder. -- Meredith Knight