Nancy Ann Rich Knight passed away peacefully on November 22, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born on December 3, 1931 in Salt Lake City to Afton Robinson and Moses Logan Rich. The family soon moved to Los Angeles, where Nancy and her older sister Joyce were raised.
Nancy graduated from BYU before returning to Los Angeles to teach first grade. She married Kenneth Young Knight on June 27, 1955, and together they raised five children.
Over the course her life, Nancy wore many diverse hats. She was a ballerina, a teacher, a Cub Scout den mother, an avid sports fan when one of her children or grandchildren was playing (and not at all when they weren’t), a volunteer, a PTA room mom, a neighbor, a missionary, a friend….the list goes on and on. But without question, her favorite roles were that of mother and wife. She selflessly sacrificed for and served her children and grandchildren, and was more than happy to list their achievements for random strangers. She was tireless in her support of Ken in his career and his community and church service, and he could not have accomplished the things he did without her by his side. Nancy was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served faithfully wherever she was asked. She particularly loved being the “mission mom” to the missionaries in the Canada Vancouver LDS mission when Ken served as mission president. She also loved volunteering at Primary Children’s Hospital, and could be found at the front desk in a pink smock and a smile every Wednesday for over 30 years.
Since Ken’s death in 1999, Nancy has attended countless family parties, concerts, games, meals, graduations, weddings, baby blessings, celebrations, church services, and meetings without him, leading on behalf of both of them the family they loved and worked so hard to create. While we will miss her terribly, we are comforted to know she is enjoying a joyful reunion with him, her parents, her sister, and her beloved grandsons Thomas Knight and Logan Knight. She leaves behind her children: Kevin Knight, Karen Knight, Steven and Carol Knight, David Knight, and Lucy and Thomas Andre, along with 21 grandchildren (including grandchildren-in-law, because she claimed them all as hers), and six great grandchildren whom she adored. We are certain she is busy giving a list of instructions to the two additional great grandchildren who are expected in the next few months. As a family, we have enough hilarious and happy memories of Nancy to keep us remembering her fondly for many years. The greatest gift she and Ken gave us is each other, and we will treasure their legacy.
We are so grateful to everyone who served and supported her, especially Adam Andre, Hannah and Josh Flygare, Matthew and Emily Hanson, and David P and Morgan Knight, who lived with and cared for her; the many members of the Valley View 10th ward who loved her and the Knight family for 54 years; and the staff at Spring Gardens, who were so kind to her during the last months of her life.
Funeral services will be held on December 9, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. at the LDS chapel at 3820 So. 2000 E. in Salt Lake City. Friends may call on Friday evening, December 8, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. or on Saturday at the church from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Interment at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery.
