Obituary of Johnny Garland Knight

Services for Johnny Garland Knight, 72, of Amarillo, TX, will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, August 14, 2021, in the Abernathy First Baptist Church with Rev. Joel Perez officiating. Burial will follow in the Abernathy Cemetery with Honors being presented by the Lubbock Fire Department Honor Guard. Services are under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy. The family will gather to receive friends at Abell Funeral Home, Friday, August 13, 2021, from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm. Johnny died Friday, August 6, 2021, in Amarillo, TX. He was born June 13, 1949, in Lubbock, TX, to Jesse Knight, Jr. and Murl May (Lansdon) Knight. Johnny was raised in Abernathy where he graduated from Abernathy High School in 1967. He married Redgie Rayona Beeson, December 23, 1967, in Abernathy. For a brief time, they lived in Tulsa, OK, where he worked at North American Rockwell, and was part of the crew that painted one of the Apollo rockets. After returning to Abernathy, he began his career for the Lubbock Fire Department from 1971 until retiring in 2003. During his 32- year career with Lubbock Fire Department, he earned numerous awards and honors. In 1981, at the age of 31, he became the youngest person to become Captain with LFD. Johnny maintained 2 careers for much of his life, working in the financial services industry and various mortgage departments beginning at Allied Finance at age 24. He later worked for First Federal Savings Bank of West Texas, Rall Mortgage, and PrimeWest Mortgage. Johnny was a volunteer for the Abernathy Fire Department and was into antique furniture restoration for a few years. Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Murl Knight, a sister, Connie Jantz and 2 brothers, Wesley Knight and Boyd Knight. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Redgie Knight of Amarillo, TX, 2 sons, Jared Knight and wife Velvet of Amarillo, TX, and Jeremy Knight and wife Stacy of Canyon, TX, a brother, Mike Knight and wife Sheryl of Conroe, TX, and 5 grandchildren, Dylan Knight and wife Allison, Jordan Knight and fiancè Ally Brock, Luke Knight and wife Aubrey, Ben Knight and fiancè Sara Beth Dowel, and Sterling Knight. Family suggests memorials be sent to Lubbock Fire Rescue Attn: Honor Guard 1515 East Ursuline St. Lubbock, TX 79403.