Granville Carroll Knight Jr.

Granville Carroll "Fella" Knight, Jr. died peacefully on Friday, February 2, with family by his side.

Fella was born at home in Grapeland, Texas, on January 19, 1936. He was the only child of Granville Carroll Knight, Sr. (Papa) and Marguerite Sullivan Knight (Muggsy). Fella was raised surrounded by the high school football and basketball teams his father coached. So much so that one of the players takes credit for his nickname, "Fella", which all came to adopt and recognize. As an educator, his Dad had principal and coaching jobs in smaller towns around Texas and Oklahoma, which is clearly why Fella was so easygoing, adaptable to change, and never met a stranger.

Fella attended the University of Houston, where he was involved in student leadership and served as president of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He met the love of his life, Elaine Averett Word Knight, on a blind date and it was love at first sight. Elaine and Fella spent the early years working hard and vacationing when they could in Galveston and Acapulco. Later in life, with their three children, some of their fondest memories as a family were teaching us how to water ski over the hydrilla on Lake Conroe or enjoying the outdoors with family and friends at Las Noches ranch in Beeville. Fella was happiest in his pickup truck or on his tractor at the ranch, preferably with a grandchild by his side. 

Fella was a selfless character and active in his community. As a young father, he coached youth basketball and later served his community contributing to numerous boards. Perhaps his most prized position was his cherished 5-year tenure as chairman of the River Oaks Country Club Invitational Tennis Tournament (known today as the US Men's Clay Court Championship), but his greatest fulfillment was undoubtedly helping others, especially disadvantaged youth. Fella was trusting, forgiving, and kind. He cherished volunteering with Inner City Youth, was involved in Prison Ministry under the direction of Judge Michael McSpadden, and proudly accepted the "Family of the Year" award from Family Services Association in 2010.   He touched many lives, friends and strangers alike.

Fella enjoyed serving his clients over a successful 40-year career in the life insurance industry and claimed many accolades along the way, including receiving the Ben Woodson award. He spent the first 30 years of his career with Mass Mutual and retired as a leading general agent (GA) for Guardian Life Insurance Company. Throughout his career, he was a longstanding member and past president of the Whitehall Club.  Fella attributed his business acumen and foundation of his success to his service as Captain in the Military Intelligence Corps of the United States Army.

Fella was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Elaine.  He is survived by his three children – son Wade Lee Knight; daughter Amy Knight Miller and her husband De Miller of San Antonio and their two children, Elaine Averett (Avery) and John; son Brady and his wife Alexandra and their two sons, Thomson and Truett; his cousin Sally Sullivan James and the Sullivan family; his brother-in-law Bailey Word of Tulsa and his wife Janet, and his two nephews, Scott Word of Los Angeles, and Bradley Word of Tulsa.

We would like to express our profound gratitude for the love and friendship Louie Barrientos showed Fella over the past two years. It is never too late to make new friends.

We also wish to recognize the expertise and compassion of Anchor Hospice and the kind staff at The Tradition.

We know his life had meaning, as did he.  May Fella rest in peace with his beloved Elaine.

Services will be held at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Friday, February 10, at 1 pm.

If you wish to honor Fella's memory, please consider a gift to Family Houston. https://familyhouston.org/donation/

A live stream of the service at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Friday, February 10, at 1 pm can be found at the following link https://www.stlukesmethodist.org/fella-knight/