Darrell Glen McKnight

Services for Darrell Glen McKnight, 89 of Gladewater will be on Wednesday January 3^rd at 2:00p.m. at Croley Funeral Home.  Interment will follow at Barber Cemetery.  Visitation will take place on Tuesday evening January 2^nd from 5-7 at Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater Texas.

Darrell was born on July 8, 1934, to Russell Joseph and Lucy Ione and went to be with his Lord on December 28^th, 2023.  He was married to the love of his life Joy Dale for 62 years before her passing on September 26^th, 2017.  Darrell and Joy raised three children together, Terry McKnight, Teresa Ludovice, and Tracy McKnight.  Darrell graduated from Gladewater High School in 1952 and continued his education at Tyler Junior College where he graduated with an associate degree in finance.  Over the years he worked as a produce manager at Piggly Wiggly and several Brookshire stores.  Darrell worked in accounts receivable for Allied Finance.  For over 30 years, he owned and operated six convenient stores and two car washes.  His final business venture was a real estate business that he shared with his youngest son Tracy McKnight for 15 years.

Darrell enjoyed playing golf in his younger days and also loved playing poker with his buddies up until just a few months before his passing.  He also loved traveling to Hot Springs, Arkansas and Branson, Missouri with his wife, brother and sister-in-law and his sister. 

Darrell was a member of Gladewater United Methodist church where he and Joy attended regularly.  He served as the church finance committee chair for many years.  He was a member of the Gladewater City Council and the Gladewater Zoning board and served as President of the Texas Retail Grocers Association.

He is preceded in death by his parents Russell Joseph and Lucy Ione McKnight, his brother and sister-in-law Cody and Helen Houston, his brother-in-law Bill Haire, his wife Joy Dale Pritchett McKnight, and his daughter-in-law Melinda Edwards McKnight.

Darrell is survived by his children and their spouses Terry and Melanie McKnight of Longview, Teresa and Steve Ludovice of Houston, and Tracy McKnight and his fiancé Daphne Casses of Gladewater.  He had many grandchildren Daniel and Kelsey (spouse) McKnight of Longview, Kristin and Will (spouse) Knox of Houston, Kyle and Candice (spouse) Ludovice of Deer Park, Kelly Ludovice of Houston, Josh and Jessica (spouse) McKnight of Gladewater, Patrick and Amanda (spouse) McKnight of Casper Wyoming, Ashley Garcia and her fiancé Zack Strait of Gladewater.  His great grandchildren are Owen Knox, Mackenzie Knox, Sutton Ludovice, Landon McKnight, Logan McKnight, Lillie McKnight, Madison Vaughn, Madix Garcia, and Aubrie Garcia.  Darrell also leaves behind a sister Ikey Haire, one nephew Kenneth Dykes and a niece Dana and her husband Craig Parr and their son Hudson.

The family would like to thank Lorene Phillips, Wanda Duffy, Ella Sublet, NaDasha Armour, Nokoshia Gordon, Jessica Phillips, Jasmine Green, and Ronnie Spratlind for their in-home care, support and love of our dad.