Ella Christoffersen McKnight

CORNISH, UTAH ELLA MCKNIGHT

CORNISH- Ella C. McKnight, 89, passed away at her home in Cornish, Utah, on March 25, 2011, due to congestive heart failure. She was born June 3, 1921,in Lewiston, Utah at the home of her grandmother Karren's, to Moses and Marie Christoffersen. Ella was an only child, but learned early the value of hard work by working in the fields with potatoes and sugar beets.

Ella first met Paul McKnight when she was attending North Cache High School. They were married in the Logan Temple on July 29, 1941 and were able to spend 58 years together before his passing away on April 6, 1999. Except for two years, they have resided in Cornish where they raised four sons, one daughter and took in a foster Indian daughter for one year. Their children are Chris (Sandy) McKnight of Cornish; Brad (Debbie) McKnight of Cornish; the late Kent (Terri) McKnight of Cornish; Quinn (Terresa) McKnight of Brookings, South Dakota; Paulette (Steven) Godfrey of Clarkston, Utah; and Frankie (Jeffrey) Davis of Provo, Utah. She has been loved dearly by seventeen grandchildren, thirty-six great-grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Throughout her life she has given much service and accomplished many things. She worked for thirty years at Lewiston State Bank which she thoroughly enjoyed. She has served in various ways in the auxiliaries of the LDS Church along with other callings such as historian, chorister, piano and ward organist and singing in the ward choir. Ella and Paul were called to served in the Logan Temple which they did for many years and they were able to serve a mission together in Columbia, South Carolina. They both had a love for serving in the temple.

Together they received the "Cornish Outstanding Citizens Award". She never stopped doing what her and Paul enjoyed doing together. She kept on losing herself in volunteering and giving service to others. It hadn't been a good day if she hadn't been out and about being active in something. Sitting around wasn't for her. She would get herself somewhere to do something. Up until the last four weeks of her life she was up at 6 a.m. going to the exercise gym in Preston, Idaho with some dear friends, then back to the Lewiston Elementary School where she helped the students read in Jan Tingey's 4th grade class four days a week for fourteen years. She received the "Golden Apple Award" in 2010 at the age of 88. Every Tuesday she took the day off from school to go to the temple and do a couple of sessions. She was busy even when she was at home making her homemade bread that everyone enjoyed slicing up when it was hot from the oven or toasting it and piling on the butter and homemade strawberry jam.

While sitting in her favorite chair, you would see her reading a book or magazine, making all the grandchildren their own baby blanket for when they came into this world. They all started out being covered up with the warmth of grandma's love. The list could go on and on, but we know that the angels in heaven have all of them accounted for. Mom truly lived a full life and has blessed the lives of her family and other dear friends around her. Even in the short time of having Access Hospice Program coming into her home everyone thought she was a sweetheart and she thought the same of them. We as a family are very thankful to Access Hospice, Dr. Jeffrey Strong for his loving care and all others for standing by us during the last days of mom's earthly mission.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. in the Cornish/Trenton LDS Church with Bishop Conrad Naegle conducting. Friends may call Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the church and Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. also at the church. Interment will be in the Cornish Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com Arrangements are by Webb Funeral Home of Preston.