Reverend John Carl Knight, 87, of Buell, MO, died on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at his home surrounded by family.

John Carl Knight was born on March 1, 1931, in a small community just out from Cherryvale, KS, called "Corbin City". He was the fifth child born to Ira Scott Knight and Bessie Leota (Clay) Knight. Following Carl's birth, five more children were added to the family. He received his education in the schools of Cherryvale, KS, and Ochelata, OK.

At the age of 14, the family moved to Ochelata, OK and Carl never moved back to Cherryvale, from then on always considering Ochelata his hometown. He loved the hills and prairies around Ochelata and in 1980 he returned to Ochelata to pastor the local church until 1985 when he moved to Rogers, AR to become the pastor of the local church there.

Carl was saved in 1950 from a life of rebellion and sin and later sanctified and cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus. He was called to preach the Gospel and began his first revival in his hometown, Ochelata, OK, in March 1951. In all the succeeding years, Carl strove to be faithful to that call to preach. He was a pastor for 47 years, pastoring churches in OK, KS, MO, AR, and CA.

On September 1, 1951, Carl married Nellie Belle Brown, the sister of his best friend, Tom Brown, and to this union three children were born: Deborah Ann, Philip Wayne, and David Leon. Nellie preceded him in death in 2006 after 55 years of marriage. In 2007 he married Mary Ethel (Cassell) Fuller and she survives at the home. Also preceding him in death were his father and mother, Ira and Leota Knight, one sister, Vera Henry, and one child through miscarriage. Those surviving are four sisters: Rena Knight, Ruth Brown, Wilma Miller and Lavon Cox; four brothers: William (Bill) Knight, Eugene Knight, Harold Knight and Keith Knight; three children: Deborah McIntire, Philip Knight (Kerrie), and David Knight (Joanne); seven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; one step-son, Martin Fuller (Barb); four step-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild and one "adopted" granddaughter, Merilee Barnard.

Visitation was held on Saturday, July 28, 2018 from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM at the Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City, MO. Visitation was held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Monday, July 30, 2018, at the Davis Family Funeral Home/Walker Brown Chapel in Bartlesville, OK. Funeral services were held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at the Bible Holiness Church in Ochelata, OK, with burial in the Ochelata Cemetery in Ochelata, OK, with Military Honors.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Compassus Hospice; the New Florence Holiness Church; or to the Charity of One's Choice, c/o Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO   63361.

Condolences may be made to www.schlankerfuneralhome.com