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Betty Lois Knight, 94, was born on October 23, 1931, in Livingston, TN to Herman and Maggie “Lois” Taylor. The fourth of nine children, Betty would often recount stories of her lively upbringing involving: getting water from a spring, fetching wood to cook with, using an outhouse, picking cotton, and working in the family garden that sustained them. In 1942, the family moved from Tennessee to Whitewright, TX where she would later marry her first husband Rudolph Phillips and they would have her son, James Phillips. Betty would later move to the Dallas area for employment opportunities where she worked as a machine operator in a paper product manufacturing plant that made envelopes and notepads, including the “Big Chief Tablet” and “Spiral Notebook”. After almost 40 years there, she retired from Mead/Westvaco as a valued employee. Betty re-married again in 1977 to J. R. Knight, a husband that she referred to as the love of her life, and J. R. built their home on property they purchased in Tioga, TX. She was very proud of their home and put a lot of work into the decorating and landscaping. She remained a widow after his passing 10 years into their marriage and still carried a deep love for him that remained strong 38 years later due in part to, in her words, “him making her feel cherished and special everyday.” Betty was a lively personality that lived with both charm and conviction. Very self-assured, she always stood up for herself and had a memorable presence. Betty loved to tell a good story; and she had a sense of humor and charisma that was reminiscent of another blonde from Tennessee that she often related to…Dolly Parton. She lived a fulfilling life, always proud of her family. She had a tremendous work ethic, was an excellent cook, and she enjoyed many passions and hobbies. She loved dancing, playing bingo and going to the game room, treasure hunting at garage sales, gardening/canning, and perhaps most important to her, she loved spoiling her Chihuahuas: Freeway, Highway, and Tootie. Betty is preceded in death by her parents Herman and Maggie Lois Taylor; siblings, Claudine Phillips, Jessie Carson, Francis Chambers, Charles Taylor, Johnnie Ward, Herbert Taylor, and Jimmy Taylor; son, James Phillips; infant son, Timmy Taylor; and her loving husband, J. R. Knight. She is survived by her sister, Billy Jean Neal; four grandchildren, Shawn Phillips, Jason Phillips, Aydrehauna Park, and Jeremy Phillips; six great-grandchildren, Alice, Alec, and Anderson Park, Lilly, Charlie, and Ava Phillips, and Piper Phillips. Visitation will be held 9:00AM-10:00AM, Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Slay Memorial Chapel in Aubrey, TX and the funeral service will begin at 10:00AM with Bill Neal, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at Tioga Cemetery in Tioga, TX. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Devon Calverley and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

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Betty Lois Knight

October 23, 1931 - January 3, 2026