Geraldine Knowles

Geri Knowles was born on December 17, 1932, and went to her heavenly home on March 30, 2024, at age 91. The daughter of William and Pearl Rushing she spent most of her childhood in Cuthand and graduated from Bogata public schools. Her early life also included moves to Oklahoma as her parents moved to different places for employment. In January 1950 she married the love of her life, Steve Edward Knowles of Maple. He was a handsome veteran returning from service in the Navy in the Second World War and she always said he was the best looking guy around. Their early life together first took them to the Dallas-Ft Worth area where he worked for Vought Aircraft utilizing his aviation mechanic skills. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Air Force and he and Geri began a journey that would take them to bases all over the U.S. and eventually to the air base in Puerto Rico. Their journey led them back to Bogata in 1965 where they spent the rest of their lives after Steve's retirement from the service. Steve preceded her in death in 2003 after 53 years of marriage.

 Her granddaughters said they could always pick their Mamaw out in a crowd because of the many unusual hats she wore. A favorite was a big blue hat with a large sunflower on top that nobody could miss. For decades the highlight of her week was playing 42 in Bogata with the ladies. She would fret for days about what to take for their lunch. Then would finally say, "It doesn't matter what I take anyway, they'll eat anything." All her life Geri was a voracious reader and passed on the love of reading to her children. She always said, growing up poor with not much else to do, reading was a means of escaping to places that stirred the imagination. Geri loved the Lord and was a member of Cuthand Methodist Church. One of the joys of her life was attending services there and meeting her many friends in the congregation. As her health began to decline, she greatly missed not having the opportunity to more frequently attend.

 Geri is survived by her three children; son, Steve Knowles and wife, Patricia of Georgetown; daughter, Priscilla Jumper and husband, Neil of Paris; and son, Bruce Knowles and wife, Patti of Gunter. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Geri Kay- Kim Saenz, Renee Cowan, Dana Murphy, Brandon Bridges, Adam Knowles, and Allison Elder. In a long and wonderful life she also has 11 great grandchildren, 2 great, great grandchildren; nieces, Phyllis, Margaret and Penny; and a nephew, Neil.

Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M. Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Cuthand Church with Rev. John Purviance officiating.  Burial will follow in Bogata Cemetery under the direction of Clarksville Funeral Home. 

Visitation will be an hour before service time at the church. 

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