Mrs. Jean McKnight died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, in Vicksburg. A native of Bedford, Ind., she was the youngest of seven children born to the late Henry Mote and Emilie Adela Hunt Graves on Dec. 28, 1926.

As a young girl, her mother taught her to play the piano, and she became the pianist for the orchestra and glee club at Shawswick High School. She also played the bass drum for the high school band and graduated as valedictorian from Sahwswick. She attended Indiana University for two years and later Mississippi College.

Also as a teenager, she was the pianist for the Leatherwood Christian Church, of which she was a member. She also sang in a gospel mixed quartet.

She was a lifetime member of the Leesville Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Indiana and served there as Worthy Matron.

She and her husband moved to Mississippi in 1949. She became active in the Extension Homemakers, serving as state president in 1972-73. She then became editor of the statewide newsletter until the publication ceased in December 1999.  She attended many of the national meetings, the first being in Hawaii.

She was a member and past president of Magnolia Garden Club; member and past president of the Pi Alpha Kappa Sorority, Alpha Chapter; and a member of the Ashmead Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

She attended First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Roscoe McKnight II, her parents, one sister, five brothers, two nieces and one nephew.

She is survived by her daughter, Emilie Katherine Staggs, sons, Edward R. McKnight III and Thomas Henry McKnight, all of Vicksburg; 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, seven nieces, three nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, at Cedar Hill Cemetery with Dr. Matt Buckles, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the hour of service at Riles Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Edward R. McKnight IV, Dustin McKnight, Michael McKnight, David Johnson, Brian Lick and Tanner Hamilton.

Memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, 530 Mission 66, Vicksburg, MS  39183 or to the Ashmead Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 304 Fairways Drive, Vicksburg, MS  39183.