CAROLYN BETH KNIGGE


Carolyn Beth Knigge was born on February 21st of 1944. She left this world on June 16, 2023. She was 79 years, 3 months and 26 days old. She lived well and was loved by many.

Carolyn Beth was preceded in death by her parents Burnett Charles Knigge and Vera Elizabeth Washek, her siblings; Katherine Lois Jacobsen, Kenneth Burnett Knigge and Emily Earlene Washek Combs, also lovingly referred to as, “Deanie.”

She is survived by her dear brother, Charles Allen Knigge and wife Denise of Liverpool, TX.

Children:
Carolyn Teresa Duncan and husband Keith of Sidney, AR
Lisa Renee’ Thibodeaux and husband Randolph of Wasilla, AK
Emma Louise King and husband Brian of Walden, TX
John Bennett Bouse III and wife Jaila of Huffman, TX

Grandchildren:
Adam Ryan Sanchez and husband Sonny of Burnett, TX
Carolyn Roya Ferguson and husband Kevin of Porter, TX
Seth Michael Rowe and wife Kacie of New Caney, TX
Evan Wayne Sanchez of Conroe, TX
Megan Irene Urdialez and husband Paul of Crosby, TX
Paul Thomas Rowe and wife Jamie of Porter, TX
Alec Nathaniel Sanchez and wife Jordan of New Caney, TX
Ashley Rebecca Jean Hammond and husband Cody of Kingsville, TX
Timothy Allen Rowe and wife Jennifer of Wasilla, Alaska
Zachary Tyler Bennett Bouse of Houston, TX
Edan Micah Sanchez and wife Ashley of Spring, TX
Amme Louise Honeycutt and husband Jake of Oyster Creek, TX
Abigail Renee’ Rowe and partner Michael of New Caney, TX
Anna Renee’ Street and husband Jonathan of Baytown, TX

Great Grandchildren:
Wyatt and Madelyn Rowe
Mason, Levi & Ariella Urdialez
Camila & Luna Rowe
Leia & Kaiya Hammond
Jeremy, Delilah & Sawyer Sanchez
Aurora Rose Rowe
Maggie Sanchez
Arthur Tully Weber
Andy Mae Street

Nieces and Nephews
Cheryl Moerbe, Tracie Callaway, Mark Huffman and Robert Knigge

As well as many lifelong friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Mom, what is there to say about Carolyn, Carolyn Beth, Beth, Mom, Grammy, Mimi or Puddin? Simply put, she was a phenomenal lady. She loved being a mother and did an awesome job at it! She was a wonderful friend, loving, giving, kind, helpful, generous and gracious.

As children, she instilled in us a love for music, nature, plants, animals, sewing, cooking, baking, reading, learning and life in general. We may not all possess all of these attributes, but there is a little in each one of us. I love that I can look around and see that love come full circle and is blossoming out of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She may have left this earth, but she left our family tree, full and decorated with beautiful fruit.

Carolyn was tenacious and determined, she learned as an adult how to swim, so that if ever, one of her kids or a child was in trouble, she could help them. She continued until she was a lifeguard and swimming instructor at our local YMCA.

She taught us to treasure friendships and to love unconditionally. She taught us to be independent and stand up for truth and justice, how to be good citizens, to be respectful of our elders and how to have great work ethics. We would often go to work with her at the Senior Home to talk and serve the residents, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, creed or condition. They just needed love.

While raising four children alone, she put herself in college to earn her associates degree. She was in the Who’s Who of America and became a career draftsman for 30+ years. She retired from the San Jacinto River Authority.

During her career she eagerly welcomed 14 grandchildren in a span of 10 years. If you knew mom, you knew they were her everything. They all adored her and have very fond memories of Mimi taking each one out on their birthday to have the dinner of their choice, even if it was McDonalds (Mimi’s least favorite), and then off to shop till they dropped, just to pick out their own perfect birthday gift.

Carolyn or Puddin was known to be a true and dear friend. She had several friends that go all the way back to childhood and high school. She was even in the same Pokeno group for probably 20+ years. We were raised with Becky Bush and Patsy Simon and their sweet families. They were both like second moms to all of us and their kids were like siblings!! Becky was always on stand-by with her wooden spoon to keep all 7 children in line, and Patsy always had an endless supply of Cheetos ready.

During mom’s life she had many adventures, including Europe, Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska. As with the whole world, she stayed closer to home starting in 2020. She ended up in the hospital with Covid and we counted our blessings when she was able to get back home as many others didn’t make it. Following her recovery, she had a very hard couple of years with her diabetes and heart issues, which eventually took its toll on her and would usher her home to be with her Lord.

I wish I would have counted how many times in the last two years, Mom said to us, “I’m ready to go home. If you walk in and find me unconscious, please just turn around and walk back out the door.” God in His loving Goodness and Graciousness, knew we could never have done such a thing, so He made sure to take her home before we found her. So only the Lord and momma know exactly the moment she left this earth. So if you know Carolyn Beth, our mother, you know she could always keep a secret. We feel so blessed that she got to leave this earth just how she wanted, in her own home and even her last moment was her little secret.

While cleaning out Mom’s house, Emma found this and it sums up what I think Mom would say is the most important thing she could leave with you:

Center of the Bible

What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? Psalms 117
What is the longest chapter in the Bible? Psalms 119
Which chapter is in the center of the Bible? Psalms 118
There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118 and 594 chapters after Psalms 118.
Add these numbers up and you get 1188.
What is the center verse in the Bible? Psalms 118:8

Does this verse say something significant about God’s Perfect Will for our Lives?
The next time someone says they want God’s perfect Will for their life or they want to be in the center of His Will. Just send them to the center of His Word! Psalms 118:8 (NKJV) It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in Man.

The two words in the middle of the verse, or the exact center words of the Bible?
You guessed it, “the Lord”!!

Now isn’t that odd how this worked out (or was God in the center of it)?
Mom would never offend you by pushing her Jesus off on you, but she was always praying for all of us.

The morning of the 16th, I was reading on social media, and a lady stated; Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat and in the hollow part in your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.
It made me cry, it was so profound, I shared it with my husband. Later in the day, I knew it was a sweet gift from the Lord, His way of preparing me for the days to come.

On behalf of our family, I would like to sincerely thank each one of you for taking your time to come out in the heat to celebrate and honor our Mother’s life, memory and home going and to grieve with us.