Howard William "Mac" McKnight, 87, of Bartlett, TN, passed away in the early morning hours of Friday, September 30, 2022. He is survived by his sister, Alice McKnight Morrison of Pontotoc, MS, two daughters, Cindy McKnight Stewart and Beverly McKnight, three grandsons, Matthew McKnight Stewart, (Ashley Elliot Stewart and son Cohen), of Southaven, MS, Andrew Allen McKnight, (Kasey Wyatt McKnight, 6-year-old Great-Grandson Freeman Howard McKnight and 3-year-old Great-Granddaughter Brooklyn Boo McKnight), of Lakeland, TN, and Zachary Edward Stewart, (Ashley Noe Stewart), of Counce, TN.

Mr. McKnight was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth Jane Wilson McKnight of Adamsville, TN, his parents William Oscar McKnight and Sara Ophelia McKnight of Pontotoc, MS, his sister Loyce McKnight Gambrel of Albuquerque, NM, his brother Freeman Oscar McKnight of Southaven, MS, and his sister Mabel McKnight Sandlin of Fulton, MS.

Mr. McKnight was raised on a farm in rural Mississippi and upon graduation, moved to Memphis for job opportunities. He began his 40- year career at the Crosstown store of Sears Roebuck and Co. It was there he met his future wife, Liz. He often remembered that when he saw Liz walk by one day, he told his friend, "That's the girl I'm going to marry." After transferring with a small group from Memphis to start up a new facility in New Orleans, LA, Mac and Liz's relationship grew to one that would last through moves to Memphis, Knoxville, Pembroke Pines FL, and back to Bartlett, TN for retirement.

Active in his children's and grandchildren's lives, Mac never missed a ballgame his kids were playing, missed a school program or play, and when the grandsons came around, he never even missed a practice in addition to their games. He was an active member of Ellendale Baptist Church and cherished the many friends he had there and their support. He was a loyal and faithful friend who was always willing to help out however he could and later in life would assist with rides to doctor's appointments, repairing whatever needed to be fixed, and checking on folks who were down or sick and needed a friend.

A child of the depression, Mac could and would fix anything before replacing it. Before the move to Bartlett, Mac expanded the family home in Memphis by adding an addition to the family home, serving as a jack-of-all trades, learning skills like electrical, plumbing, drywall, roofing, and carpentry. He learned to do it all.

Mac was blessed with many nephews, nieces and cousins whom he loved dearly and cherished up to his death. The family will greatly miss him, but we all know he is reunited with his beloved wife, his mom and dad, brother and sisters, and very dearly missed friends. His family is confident with the knowledge that there was great celebration and reunion in heaven, and those of us left behind will join them one day, too.

Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 4 at Harmony Church of Bartlett at 6740 St Elmo Rd, Bartlett, TN 38135 with a service at noon.

Services entrusted to Bartlett-Heritage Funeral Home & Cremation Center; 5809 Stage Road, Bartlett; (901) 372-5555; bartlettheritage.com.