Morgan "David" McKnight

Funeral services for Morgan “David” McKnight, 67, will be 10 a.m., Wednesday at the Captain Wm Perry Chapel of Haggard Funeral Home, Jefferson, Texas with Pastor Kent Leonard, and David Story officiating.  Burial will be at Savannah Cemetery in Smithland, Texas under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home of Jefferson. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, at the Captain Wm Perry Chapel of Haggard Funeral Home in Jefferson.

David was born May 7, 1954, in Wynnewood, Oklahoma to J.C. “Sonny” McKnight and Lawana Gayle Russell McKnight and passed away at his home on February 19, 2022.  After graduating from McLeod High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he honorably served for 4 years.  After his discharge from the Navy, he went to work for Lodi Drilling, which is a company that he and his family owned and operated for many years.  When Lodi Drilling was sold David attended the East Texas Policy Academy where he became a commissioned Texas Peace Officer.  From the time he graduated from the Police Academy, David worked in this field and finished out his career at the Marion County Sheriff’s office which included being elected as Sherriff in 2012 and serving in that capacity until his retirement in 2020. 

He was a member of the Texas Master Peace Officer’s, Jim’s Bayou Masonic Lodge, life member of Jefferson Masonic Lodge as a 32°Scottish Rite Shriner, Good Exchange Baptist Church, and a longtime member of the Smithland Volunteer Fire Department.   He enjoyed hunting, fishing, raising cattle, and spending time with family and friends. 

Preceding Mr. McKnight in death were his parents and brothers, Charles McKnight, and Joe McKnight.

He is survived by his wife Betty Tefteller McKnight; son, Harris McKnight; Grandson, Sawyer McKnight; Sisters-In-Law, Kim McKnight, and Carol Walker; Aunts, Francis Russell of Queen City, Texas, Ladelle Kay of Longview, Texas; Uncle, Dale Tefteller of Simms, Texas, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and other family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jay Womack, Matt Whitfield, Wade Rasberry, David Capps, Robbie Davis, Florentino Perez, Chuck Rogers, Daniel Haynes, and Terry Melton. 

Honorary Pallbearers are Greg Dickerson, Jerry Bennett, Bubba Muse, Jerry McInnis, Angie Smoak, Maryann Mauldin, Lena Pope, Larry Rowe, Tom McCool, Don Blackwell, and the officers and staff of Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

The family would like to give special thanks to PrimeCare Home Health and PrimeCare Hospice for their compassionate care of David.

In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials to be made to Savannah Cemetery Association, Attention: Joy McGriff, 2100 Lewis Chapel Road, Jefferson, Texas 75657 or Back the Badge, C/O Faith Tabernacle, 1008 North Alley, Jefferson, Texas 75657.

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