MABELYNE MCKNIGHT
09/29/1922 - 08/30/2022
A Texas Lady for 100 Years On August 30, 2022, Mabelyne Holland McKnight peacefully departed this world to be home with the Lord. She was surrounded by family and loved ones.
Born September 29, 1922, in Rockwood, Texas, Mabelyne was the youngest daughter of Byron and Mabel Holland. She was very close to her three siblings: Juanita Brown, Irma McCreary, and Houston F. Holland, as well as her nieces and nephews. Mabelyne graduated from Brownwood High in 1941, married Thomas Nelson McKnight and moved to Houston.
In 1942, Mabelyne and Nelson’s daughter Linda was born with a congenital heart defect and given little chance of a long life. Despite the grim prognosis and the odds, Mabelyne and Nelson’s positive attitude, love and prayers helped to ensure Linda’s beautiful life spanned more than 74 wonderful years. Their son, Thomas Nelson McKnight, Jr. was born following Nelson’s return from serving in the Army during WWII.
Mabelyne was active in Bonner Elementary School, including a period as the president of the PTA. She and Nelson were instrumental committee members focused on the charter to build a new church in their neighborhood known as Glenbrook Methodist Church. In the 1960’s, Mabelyne earned her Real Estate License and began to sell houses alongside her lifelong friend and confidante, Marcy Williams, of Marcy Williams Realty, and at the age of 40, Mabelyne fashionably began her famous grey swirl and brunette hairdo. Along with their husbands, the friends and business partners traveled the world together.
Mabelyne and Nelson welcomed their daughter-in-law, Mimi to the family in 1973. Granddaughters Stephenie and Marcy were born a few years later. In 1980, son-inlaw Windell E. Thomason and his sons joined the family, bringing much happiness and joy to the McKnights. When Nelson lost his battle with cancer, Mabelyne moved to Lufkin to be near Linda and Windell. After 28 years, Mabelyne said goodbye to her lovely life in Lufkin and relocate closer to Tom and Mimi.
For 100 years, Mabelyne exemplified a true Texas lady. She was smart, stylish, energetic, kind, strong and faithful, and she would fill a room with joy just by walking through the door! Everyone around her knew that a good friend was coming when they saw her red Cadillac with “Mabel” license plates pulling up the drive. She was precious to everyone and leaves a legacy of love and happiness in our hearts.
Mabelyne is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings and their spouses, her loving and faithful husband, Nelson, and their daughter Linda. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Tom and Mimi McKnight, son-inlaw Windell Thomason, and her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, whom she adored as well as numerous other extended family members.
Services for Mabelyne McKnight will be held in Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home 6900 Lawndale St. in Houston, Texas, where she will be laid to rest next to Nelson. Visitation September 16 at 7:00 pm, and chapel service September 17 at 10:00 am at Chapel of Angels.
Memorial donations can be made to the Linda McKnight Thomason Nursing Scholarship Fund at Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas.