Brian Willard "Brian" Knife

1955 - 2025

Bandon - At around 6:30 this evening in Bandon, Oregon, Brian Knife lost his long battle with cancer and passed from this world. Brian spent his last hours in the company of people he loved and who loved him. The day before he died was a good day, the best day; he shared stories and wisecracks with his brothers David and Nick, his sister-in-law Nancy, his niece Hallie, and his nephew Nathan, and with his dearest friend on earth, Laurie McCord, with whom he cohabitated the last 10 years of his life.

Brian was a graduate of Myrtle Point (Oregon) High School, class of 1973, and later graduated from the Kansas City School of Watchmaking. Watch and clock repair was a trade Brian pursued his entire adult life, at times in the employ of others, but culminating in his own business, B. W. Knife Clockworks, in Boise, Idaho. He had hundreds of customers, acquaintances, and friends in the Boise area over the roughly 40 years of business.

In retirement Brian never stopped working, having become a skilled machinist. His garage was outfitted with metal working machines of all types, including lathes, drill presses, and the like. He used these to fashion all manner of items: aluminum toy spinners, brass kaleidoscopes, miniature rifles and pistols, astrolabes, planetariums, and marine clock cases. At one point Brian even manufactured a complete and properly-geared grandfather clock, which he machined entirely from raw brass plates. He was an avid reader and kept current on U.S. and world events. The day before he entered the hospital for the last time, he had begun work on enlarging the "kitt-io" he had constructed for his beloved cat, Socks, who misses him terribly.

Brian was fortunate to have lived his last few years in the town of Bandon, on the Oregon coast near where he was raised, a spot he found beautiful. Brian got his cancer treatment in Roseburg: Roseburg Cancer Center and would like to thank the Center staff and Dr. Williams.

Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Addie, and will be interred with them in Sunset Memorial Gardens of Coos Bay, Oregon in a private celebration of life at a future date. Brian is survived by his brothers, David (Martha) and Nick (Nancy), his longtime friend Laurie McCord, and his nieces and nephews Nathan, Hallie, Joey, Aaron, and Megan, as well as grand nephews Buck, Michael, and Alex.

Brian faced death with characteristic humor. When we noted his DNR bracelet as he lay in the hospital, he protested that it was supposed to be a "DNNR bracelet, for Do Not Not Resuscitate." He then observed that the priest had just been there, and deadpanned, "He read me my last rights." We didn't know whether to laugh or cry, which is exactly what he intended, so we did both.

Our only regret is that we did not have more time with you, Brian. We love you.