Grace Laverne Knight

Grace LaVerne (Long) Knight, 87, of Manhattan passed away Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018 at Via Christi Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Grace was born in Alliance, Nebraska on February 7, 1931, the daughter of the late Grace Leora (Smith) and Kenneth Laverne Long. Mrs. Knight was the widow of Taylor "Bud" Knight. They were married on September 12, 1954, at the First Christian Church in Manhattan and were married for 61 years prior to his death in 2016. Grace began working at Southwestern Bell in the 1940's as a telephone operator. For over 30 years Mr. and Mrs. Knight were the owners of the Knights Communication Service in Manhattan. Grace also worked for Mitch's Kwik Stop in Leonardville for 15 years. Grace will be remembered for her great love and devotion to her family. Grace is survived by a daughter, Daye Lynne Runion of Manhattan; sons, Mitchell (Sue) Knight of Leonardville and Douglas (Cathy) Knight of Franklin, Kentucky; and brother Doug (Jinna) Long also of Manhattan; also surviving are 3 grandchildren: Jesse (Deidre) Knight, Courtney (Sean) Galbraith and Whitney Knight; 3 great-grandchildren: Peyton and Makenzie Galbraith and Jax Fletcher. Grace is preceded in death by her husband, Taylor "Bud" Knight; parents, sister, Betty Zoeller; and brother, Kenneth Long. A Visitation will be held on September 13, 2018, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home. The Graveside will be held on September 14, 2018, at 11:00 AM at the Kansas Veteran's Cemetery, Manhattan, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri and sent to the funeral home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home and Cremation.