Mary Calissa Kneip

Calissa was born and raised in Temple, TX. She grew up at the Canyon Creek Church of Christ (now The Vine Church), was baptized at age 9, and participated in youth group and other activities. She would later return to work for a summer at that same congregation as the youth minister. That foundation of faith placed Jesus at the center of her life, and she held a firm faith in him throughout her life.

Calissa graduated from high school in 1997, having played tenor saxophone in the band from 6th-12th grade, also acting as drum major in her senior year. From there she went to Texas A&M in College Station, TX, where she majored in community health with a minor in psychology. Her primary extracurricular activity was her involvement with the Aggies for Christ. This ministry led to her participating in a summer-long mission trip to Southeast Asia, working as a counselor at Camp of the Hills in Marble Falls, and making week-long trips to various children’s homes around Texas. She was also employed for a time at Scott & White Cancer Center, working with a children’s art project, and she was also certified in fitting breast prosthetics for women after breast cancer surgery. At this time Calissa began supporting needy children through organizations like World Vision and Compassion International, and later Neema Village in Tanzania.

In 2003 she left Texas, working for over a year as a live-in nanny in Philadelphia, attending nursing school at University of Maryland–Baltimore, and working as a NICU nurse at Greater Baltimore Medical Center and then UNC hospital in Chapel Hill, NC. While she was on the East Coast, she received her initial diagnosis of ocular melanoma. She then completed a master’s program at Duke University for nurse anesthesia, which led to a 10-year career as a nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Calissa ultimately settled in Memphis, working in the anesthesia field, and it was here that she met Hilary Duffee, whom she married in September 2019. Calissa celebrated many joys and endured many hardships during these years, and Jesus and her faith in him carried her throughout this time.

Eventually, though, due to extensive spread of metastatic ocular melanoma, she had to give up her deeply meaningful work in the medical field. By 2023, the cancer had spread to many organs, and she and Hilary were constantly looking for treatment options like clinical trials, not knowing whether they would work. Doctor’s appointments became a way of life, always with Hilary by her side. Eventually, in summer 2024, Calissa’s decline increased, and she had special difficulty with her lungs. On July 24, she took her last breath, and now she is with her Lord.

She is survived by her beloved spouse Hilary Duffee of Memphis; her parents Bill & Cathy Kneip of Jackson, MS; her brothers David (& Cynthia), Chris (& Olivia), and Daniel (& Sarah); and 8 amazing nieces & nephews: Becca, Faith, Harper, Laird, Liam, Eliza James, Liliana, and Sophia. She is also survived by all of her wonderful Duffee in-laws, as well as her precious dogs Bacchus, Isabelle, and Vivian.

Family members who preceded her in death and whom she hopes will be there to welcome her into the Kingdom include all of her grandparents: Charles & Calel Wheeler, Bonnie & Bob Keys, George Kneip, and Jerry Eubank; father-in-law Parks Duffee and niece-in-law Amelia Foulks; Aunt Carol & Uncle Dick Posey, Uncle Charles Wheeler, Uncle Lynn Eubank, Uncle Eddie Kneip, cousin Mike Osborn, and cousin Hope Mafi. Many precious pets have gone before her, including Charlie, Susie, Casie, Pirate, Bailey, and Eldin; she hopes they all come running to meet her at the pearly gates!

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, mourners may donate to the following foundations which benefits research for ocular melanoma

- A Cure In Sight (acureinsight.org)

-The Neema Village in Tanzania at neemavillage.org.

-The Eye on Grace Foundation. Donations can be made via Venmo @eyeongrace or PayPal to Eye on Grace Foundation.