Raymond Everette Knight

When Ray Knight enters the mind of someone, there are a few key components that surface: faith, family and football. He was also one of the hardest working and most dedicated men that anyone could have ever met. While his time on this earth may have concluded, his legacy will live on indefinitely. He was a man that was generous beyond expectation, loved without condition or stipulation, and cared for his family like few to have preceded him. Ray was a man known as having a "Heart of Gold." As he would often proudly proclaim, he had been a Dallas Cowboys fan since "he was knee-high to a duck." He was always proud to wear the Star and support the Blue and Silver that Dallas' iconic football franchise is most recognizable for. Naturally, he would be the first to let everyone know that his team claims 5 Super Bowl wins as well. There were plenty of times where even after a long and tiresome week of work, he would go outside with his two sons, Todd and Stephen and their friends, and play football. Some of the fondest memories those young men have of Ray were of those epic games played on the hot Summer afternoons or the brisk Autumn evenings. This demonstration of dedication to the sport was exceeded by few things; but one was his family. The core of Ray's soul was built from the ground up to bless his family. He constantly set aside his own needs in favor of those of his children and his amazing wife, Marilyn. He would frequently see his wife through the eyes of God; with unconditional love. Ray would commonly refer to his wife as being "his rock" and it never mattered whether things were going wonderfully or horribly, his description of her never wavered. He placed his wife on a proverbial pedestal and raised his two sons to follow this example. Ray is perhaps most defined by his faith in God. The relationship Ray had with God was one that overflowed with love, confidence and a strength that few possess. He developed his love for God thanks to his mother, Alma. This love would continue to manifest within his Bible study group led by Larry Larson. Some people live their lives according to a code; Ray lived according to God's Word. Even when he and his family completely had their world rocked by the devastating news of his illness, he continued to believe in and honor God. His strength routinely came from the belief and promise that through Christ's stripes we were healed. This is used in the past tense as an accomplished reality and Ray believed this with every fiber of his being. He fought tooth and nail with the heart of a champion and never questioned, doubted or felt an ounce of resentment toward God despite the horrific illness he dealt with. The legacy of Ray Knight is not simply as a father and husband, but as a testimony of God's love. Even in the face of something terrible, there burned a light so bright that was inextinguishable to the very end. Ray's life, while it may have concluded on this earth, continues eternally seated at the right Hand of God. For him, Christ has already returned, Ray is sporting his brand new holy body that is free from any pain or suffering. Ray Knight is currently enjoying the fruits of a spiritual life that has unlimited joy, love and is full of beautiful abundance. He frequently would say whenever an error of any kind was made that "the last perfect person got up and got out of here 2000 years ago." No one person is perfect; but Ray Knight was as close as one could be to perfection.