Loretta A. Knight

Loretta A. “Reta” (Bourne) Redman Knight, 97, died peacefully in her sleep Thursday, May 11, 2017, in Olathe, KS. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at the First Christian Church, Ottawa, KS. Family will meet with friends from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. prior to services at the church. Reverend Craig Robertson will officiate. Interment will be held in the Lamont Cemetery at 4:30 P.M., followed by a family memorial service at the First Christian Church in Lamont, OK. Reta was born July 15, 1919, in Lamont, OK to William F. and Rena Mae (Huffington) Bourne. She grew up in Lamont, with her mother and stepfather, Edward C. Kirby, and attended school in Pond Creek, OK, graduating with the class of 1937. On August 22, 1937, Reta was united in marriage to Charles T. Redman in Lamont, OK. They made their home in Lamont until moving in 1942 to Wichita, KS. In 1945, they moved to Ottawa, KS. Reta was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, who went to his eternal rest August 21, 1986, one day before their 49th wedding anniversary. On December 30, 1989, Reta was united in marriage to Rollo Knight in Ottawa, Kansas. They made their home in Pomona, KS, until 2012, when they moved to Ottawa Retirement Village in Ottawa, KS. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rollo, who went to his eternal rest December 30, 2012, which was their 23rd wedding anniversary. Reta worked as a bookkeeper for Ottawa Truck, Montgomery Ward, Bennett Creamery and Drs. Barr and Gollier, before becoming a medical assistant for Drs. Gollier, Strelow, Philgreen and Hadley. Reta was a member of many organizations in both Ottawa and Pomona, enjoying the friendships she made over the years. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Ottawa, the Martha Group of Christian Women’s Fellowship, Wifani Sunday school class, Baxter Social Hour Club, Pomona Chapter 305 Order of Eastern Star, and the Ladies of the Red Hat Society. Reta was also preceded in death by her parents; sister, Florence Brewer; brothers, Joel Kirby, Paul Kirby and Frank Kirby; and niece, Diane Lewis. Survivors include her sisters-in-law, Ryta Kirby and Marvajean Kirby both of Lamont, OK; half-sister, Zelda Gates of Tulsa, OK, whom she met for the first time when she was 95; fifteen nieces and nephews, whom she adored and enjoyed attending their graduations and weddings; and Brenda and Landon Fletcher and their families of Cassville, MO. The family suggests memorial contributions to First Christian Church, Ottawa c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Reta’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com