Gerald Ray “Jerry” Knight, born November 23, 1933, in Spokane, Washington, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and love. Jerry was the beloved son of Albert James Knight and Nora Marie Mack Knight. He spent his formative years in Dover, Idaho, and Usk, Washington, alongside his little sister, Chrystal, to whom he was a life-long protector.
A proud graduate of Cusick High School in 1952, Jerry excelled academically and was honored as the top student in the U.S. Military Police Battalion School in 1954. He served with distinction in the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer in Seoul, Korea, from 1954 to 1955. In 1957, he completed a course with the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Mines, showcasing his commitment to lifelong learning and the products of the earth.
Jerry married Kathleen Schmidt in 1961, and they welcomed their daughter, Lori, in 1962. Together, they built a beautiful horse ranch outside of Deer Park, Washington; he resided in Deer Park for nearly all of his adult life. He married Judy (McGladrey) Schumaker in 1977, becoming a trusted father to her teenagers Greg and Vicki, and small Gordon.
In 1977, Jerry joined the LDS Church, where he served faithfully in various priesthood callings within the Deer Park ward. His career at the Kaiser aluminum plant in Mead, Washington, was marked by hard work and dedication, with Jerry providing continuity and comfort for his family until his retirement in 1995.
An avid outdoorsman, Jerry inherited his father’s love for nature, hunting and fishing, earning accolades in local sportsman shows and a reputation as an excellent and knowledgeable hunter. He was a nurturing provider, sharing the bounty of his garden and the wilderness with his family. He shared his adventures with family and friends but loved the solitude of hiking and camping solo in the peaceful forests of Washington and Idaho, and had a passion for metal detecting.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Judy, and their extended family, including children Lori Conconi (Michael), Gordon Knight (Amy), Greg Anders (Susan) and Vicki Taylor, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, niece Linda Cady (to whom he was like a father), and first wife, Kathy (with whom he remained friends). His good friends are too numerous to list, many of whom stepped forward to provide love and support to Jerry and Judy as they transitioned into their golden years and moved to Spokane Valley. The family sincerely thanks their generous, devoted friends.
Jerry’s life was a testament to hard work, love, and reverence for the beauty of an untouched and pristine mountain forest. He will be celebrated with a service at the LDS Riverside Ward Church at 34221 North Newport Highway, Chattaroy, WA, on Friday, April 18, 2025, at 5 pm, Bishop Jason Dodgen presiding. (Inquiries: Ball & Dodd Funeral Home, Spokane; Garden Spot Florist, Deer Park.)
