Phyllis Marie Knox

Phyllis Marie Smith Knox of San Angelo, Texas passed away at her home on December 1, 2020. Phyllis was born in San Angelo, Texas to George Russell Smith and Rosa Ponselle (Roselle) Smith on March 17, 1950. In 1952 when Phyllis was 2 years old, Roselle married James Patrick (Pat) McKamey in Big Lake, Texas. Phyllis was born prematurely and was blind in one eye from birth so Roselle ironed clothes for Mrs. E.M. Dolan in Big Lake to pay for piano lessons for her. She took lessons for several years starting in September 1959 when she was 8 years old and had several piano recitals from December 1, 1959, December 9, 1960 and December 14, 1961. Her mother Roselle Smith McKamey passed away from cancer in 1963 when Phyllis was only 12 years old. After Roselle’s death, Phyllis and her sister Gayle went to live with her grandmother Dovie Smith. In 1966 Phyllis met her first husband Charles Prather, while working as a Candy Striper at the Big Lake Hospital where he was a patient. They were married on August 30, 1967. Phyllis and Charles had three children, Jay Wynn in 1969, Tammie Lynn in 1973 and Christopher James in 1977. She married Tim Knox on May 17, 1984 in Tom Green County. Phyllis had several jobs besides being a mother during her life. She worked at the Nocona Boot Company, the State Hospital in Carlsbad where she met her second husband Cecil Milton (Tim) Knox, and the Circle K convenience store in Grape Creek. She really loved to read and her last job was the one she loved the most, taking care of the library at the Rio Concho Manor where she has lived for the last few years. Phyllis was preceded in death by her father George Russel Smith, her mother Roselle Smith McKamey, maternal grandparents Louis Delbert Smith and Dovie Myrtle Gage Smith of Big Smith of Camp Wood, Texas, and her husband Cecil Tim Knox of Coleman, Texas. She is survived by her children Jay Prather, Tammie Reyes, and Christopher Prather, by her sisters Carolyn Albertson and Shirley Beaudreault of San Angelo, Texas and Gayle Backstrom of Denton, Texas. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. May she at last find the One who is the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”