Jessie Owen Knight

Jessie O. Knight, of Poplar Bluff died Monday, Aug. 11, 2008 at Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center.

Jessie Arbie Kate Owen was born Nov. 18, 1914, in Hardin County, Tenn. near Savannah to John Perry Owen and May Cary Owen.

Jessie spent her youth in Tennessee and Southeast Missouri. After high school, she attended and graduated from Draughons Business College in Memphis with a secretarial degree.

Her marriage to George Turner ended with his death in WWII. She then joined the U. S. Women's Marine Corps and remained on active duty until her marriage to Edwin Knight, in 1946.

Ed was a career Marine so they relocated many times during his service. Some of their postings included Poukeepsie, NY; Chicago, IL; Camp Lejeune, NC; Parris Island, SC, and Norfolk, Nebraska. Both acquired many friends and memories at every location, stories of which they enjoyed sharing.

Jessie continued her Civil Service employment at their new postings, including the several times she was left behind during Ed's overseas war zone deployments.

Their early retirement was spent in Florida before relocating to Poplar Bluff, Mo. Here she was an active member of Fellowship General Baptist Church. Well into her eighties and in her words she was ""visiting and helping the old people"". During her illness she was a resident of Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center.

The one shadow in their life was not being blessed with children but they compensated by always having a dog to love. Both spend many happy years with Tippy, Timmy and Tammy.

Her brothers and sisters shared their families. Jessie is survived by nephews: Bill, Roy, Tony, Ronald, and Byron Thomason and John Rasor; nieces, June Thomason, Sharon Moore, Karen Owen and Jackie Wishon.

Preceding her in death in 1992 was her beloved husband ""Red"".

Also preceding her in death were her parents; brothers, John Jr. and Frank Owen; sisters, Doris Thomason and Mary Rasor; and half brother, Wilbur Owen.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel, in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel with the Rev. Byron Beck officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, in Poplar Bluff.