Gary John Knutson

Gary John Knutson died peacefully at his home Friday evening October 21st after a valiant fight against cancer.
Gary was a man who never met a stranger and was loved by all his many friends and family. Gary thrived in all social situations from business acquaintances to his many friends and golf buddies. Gary was born in Washington, DC on December 15, 1950. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Laurin Knutson of Bethesda, Maryland. Gary graduated from St. John's College High School where he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1973 where he lettered in Varsity Football. As a testimony to his lasting friendships, he has remained in close contact with many classmates.
For the last 25 years he was employed by Kenan Transport as Vice-President of the Kenan Advantage Group. He was on the Board of Directors of the Transportation Consulting Group in Bethesda, Maryland.
He was a member of St. Thomas More Church and the Newman Center in Chapel Hill.
Gary was an avid sportsman and was frequently seen riding his bike around Chapel Hill on a Saturday morning. He was an awesome golfer with his nine-hole buddies at the Chapel Hill Country Club. He is loved and will be missed by his good friends in the Kentucky Wildcat Brotherhood, River's Edge Group, and the Roaring Gap Gang, among other close friends. Above everything else, Gary was a devoted husband and father. He loved being around his children and their many friends. His good humor and love of life was infectious.
Gary is survived by his wife, Yvonne of 32 years; son, Brian and wife, Sarah of Alexandria, VA; daughter, Laura McDermott and husband, Brick of Charlotte, NC and daughter, Katie, also of Charlotte.
He is also survived by his parents, Laurin and Delores Knutson; brother, Bruce Knutson and wife, Missy and children, Heather Turner and Erica Seaman; sister, Lori and husband, Mike Keivit and children, Blair and Monica.
The family would like to thank the physicians and staff of UNC Hospitals, North Carolina Clinical Cancer Center, and UNC Hospice for their extraordinary compassion and care.
A celebration of Gary's life will be held at St. ThomasMore Church in Chapel Hill on Monday October 24 at 1:15 p.m. A reception will follow at Chapel Hill Country Club.
In lieu of Flowers the family requests that donations be made to UNC Hospice, 480 Hillsborough Street, Suite 800, P.O. Box 1077, Pittsboro, NC 27312, North Carolina Clinical Cancer Center, 2 Gravely, CB #7305, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7305, or St. John's College High School, Attention: Athletic Department, 2607 Military Road, NW Washington, DC 20015.