Obituary of Douglas Mortimer Knight

Douglas Mortimer Knight, 85, of Lake Suzy, Florida passed away Thursday, February 20, 2014 at his residence. Doug was born August 21, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan to Albert E. and Dorothy A. (nee Corey) Knight and spent his winters in the area from Spring Lake, Michigan. After high school, Doug attended Highland Park Jr. College and worked at the Federal Mogul Research Lab in Ann Arbor, MI. He also took classes at U of M and U of Detroit, until he was drafted into the Army in 1949. He advanced to 2nd Lieutenant in the 31st Division Chemical Corp. He was discharged in 1952 at which time he started his work career at D. T. Randall Co. On weekends, he took up skiing and became part of the ski patrol at Cabrefae Ski Area in Cadillac, MI. In 1958, he married the former Jean Scott and became a dedicated husband and father. As a parent, he was president of the P.T.A. and served as an active member of the Kimberly Oaks Civic Association of Livonia. As his sons grew, he introduced them to Indian Guides, Bicycling, and Skiing. The whole family also enjoyed 18 years of spending time together with family and friends at their cottage on Lake Michigan in Grand Haven. (Highland Park) As an owner of Knight-Rummel Associates, Doug was an active member of the American Plumbing Engineers. After the children were grown, Doug's interest turned to golf and birding. Upon relocating to Spring Lake in 1990, Doug became active in the Owashtanong Island Audubon Society. As a member of Spring Lake Country Club, he became a director of the Wolverine Seniors and a member of the Greens committee. He also helped establish the Country Club as an Audubon certified club. While living on Spring Lake, he worked tirelessly for the Spring Lake Area Residents Association monitoring water conditions and the treatment thereof. During several years of wintering in Florida, Doug enjoyed his membership at the Port Charlotte Golf Course. Other interests through the years were boating, fishing, and hunting with his brothers and sons. As a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, he enjoyed the ministries of Alter Server and Sacristan. Doug is survived by his loving wife, Jean Marie (nee Scott) Knight of Lake Suzy; sons, Scott Knight and his wife, Rebecca of Howell, MI and Timothy Knight and his wife, Heather of Grand Haven, MI; daughters, Jennifer Willette and her husband, John of Cedar Springs, MI and Petra Knight of Grand Haven, MI; sisters-in-law, Patricia Knight of Novi, MI, Marcia Witherell and her husband, Gerald of Grand Haven, MI, and Kimberlee Largworth and her husband, Frank of Chappaque, NY; grandchildren, Corey and Elaine Willette and Graham and Olivia Knight; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael, in 1959 and brothers, Raymond and Robert Knight. A Memorial Mass will be offered at 12:00PM on Monday, February 24, 2014 at San Antonio Catholic Church, 24445 Rampart Boulevard in Port Charlotte. A formal funeral will be held in the spring in Spring Lake, MI. Please visit Doug's tribute wall at www.schelmfh.com to share memories and to send condolences to the Knight family. Arrangements by Paul Schelm Funeral Home in Lake Suzy. Phone (941) 625-3535.