Treasured Memories and a Birthday

My first photo, taken 31 years ago, today!

As a little child, I loved getting mail. It was so exciting for something to arrive in our mailbox in my name, and lucky for me, I had a grandma and aunt that never forgot to send me a postcard on their trips and every year for my birthday, I always got some really cool cards.

I thought about this today, as I’m heading out the door to celebrate my birthday. First stop is the post office, where I’m sure there is several birthday cards in the mail for me. I still treasure these cards and they all go in a box with all the other cards I received in the past. Someday, I’ll have to think of a cool project to do with them, so my kids will know the people who sent me these cards, but in the mean time they’ll just have to stay tucked away.

Well, I hope everyone has a great day! My mom and I are going out for lunch and to do a little shopping!

The card above was given to my mom and dad at the hospital after I was born.

Happy Searching!

SueAnn

Sunday’s Obituary – Raymond Alton McKnight

Since today is Father’s Day, I thought I would share with you my daddy’s obituary.

McKNIGHT, RAYMOND passed away peacefully at home in Cullman, AL on December 22, 2008. Beloved husband of Donna McKnight; son-in-law of Lucille Lindsay of Ferndale, MI; brother of Ron (Vera) McKnight of TN; dearest father of daughters SueAnn McKnight of Cullman, Skilynn (Fred) Lafner of MI; son Shannon (Mehgann) of MI; grandfather of six; also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Bernard McKnight and brother Rickie James McKnight. Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

Ray circa 1951-2

My dad was born on 27 April 1950 to Bernard and Bernice Mansfield McKnight.

He was the best daddy that I could have ever asked for! He is very much-loved and missed! 

Ron, Ray, and Rickie McKnight circa 1955

Happy Father’s Day!

Easter Memories

As I left work today, I thought about all the wonderful Easter memories that I have. When I was little, we spent every Easter at my Grandma and Poppo’s house. They always had a big meal and of course, Easter baskets for us kids! The pictures below are all from Easter 1984. I still have the stuffed lion that my Poppo got me that year!

SueAnn Easter 1984

Daddy and me

Momma and me

What’s your favorite Easter memory? Leave a comment and let me know!

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter!!!

SueAnn

Tombstone Tuesday – Bernard McKnight

Bernard McKnight
12 Aug 1924 – 13 Sep 1977

My grandfather Bernard McKnight was born on 12 Aug 1924 and died on 13 Sep 1977. Other than a few random facts I know little about my Grandpa Bernie. He served in World War II enlisting 28 Apr 1943 and on 24 Jan 1946 he was released from military duty. In 1947, he was living on Cherry Lane in Pontiac, Michigan with Henry and Beatrice McKnight. In 1949 he and Bernice Mansfield McKnight had the first of their 3 sons, Ronald. In April of 1950 came Raymond Alton (my daddy) and in 1953, Rickey James came along. Sometime after my Uncle Rick was born, Bernice left Bernard and their boys and moved out-of-state.

Bernard McKnight

When we visited Michigan in 2010, we visited Bernie’s grave at Perry Mt. Park Cemetery in Pontiac, Michigan. This is the information we received from the cemetery office.

Bernard McKnight’s cemetery record

And a map of the cemetery:

Perry Mt. Park Cemetery Pontiac, Michigan. Bernard is buried in the veteran’s section.

I’m hoping when the 1940 census comes out I can find out more information about Bernie and the rest of the McKnight family. If you would like to know more about transcribing the 1940 census please go to this link 1940 Census Volunteer.

Happy searching!

SueAnn

Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sentimental Sunday – McKnight Family Photo

This is the only picture I have of my grandparents Bernard and Bernice Mansfield McKnight with their children (well minus my uncle Ricky who wasn’t born yet) Ronald and Raymond (my daddy). I believe this picture was taken at Easter 1953 in Friendship or Crockett Mills, Crockett County, Tennessee. My dad would have been turning 3 later that month, my uncle Ron would have just turned 4 (they were only 13 months apart), Bernice was 20 and Bernard 29.

Bernice, Ray, Bernard, and Ron McKnight
Taken April 1953 in Crockett County, Tennessee

From the story that my daddy told me, about two years after this photo was taken my Bernice left the family and moved away. My dad would visited her a few times while she was living in Florida but lived mainly with his father in Michigan.

I think that my dad and uncle could have almost passed as twins in those days.

This photo is very sentimental because not is the only family photo I have but also because in 2008 my daddy passed on and then in 2009 my uncle passed. My Grandpa Bernie was 53 when he died, my dad 58, my Uncle Ron 60, and my Uncle Rick passed at the age of 47. Bernice also passed away in 2009 at the age of 76. It’s quite sad to realize my father’s entire generation of his family passed away too soon.

May they all Rest In Peace.

SueAnn

Who will you find in the 1940 census?

With 18 days until the 1940 census is released, I began to think of the people I want to search for.

My grandmother, Lucille Mielke, should be an easy find. In 1940, she would have been 16 years old and living with her parents and siblings on Clifton Street in Detroit, Michigan. They lived in the same house since before the 1930 census.

Lucille Mielke

Next will be my grandfather, Oscar Rowan Lindsay. I have looked for him and his mother, Edith Basham Lindsay, in the 1930 census but have been unsuccessful in locating them. My grandfather would have been 22 and living in Detroit. They immigrated to America from Canada in 1923.

Oscar Rowan Lindsay circa 1935

I’m also hoping to find my grandfather Bernard McKnight. He is another one of those ancestors that seems to have emerged from thin air. There is not much information on him. I know that he was born in 1924 and served in World War II, in 1945 he was released from military duty (according to U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 World War II Records). In 1947, he was living on Cherry Lane in Pontiac, Michigan.

Bernard McKnight taken about 1953

I’m sure there are many more relatives I will be looking for, but my grandparents (and g-grandparents) will be some good finds. Who will you be looking for in the 1940 U.S. Census? If you want to volunteer to transcribe these records please join Family Search Indexing.