Jack Bernard Knight

April 22, 1928, Jack Bernard Knight was born to Clara Doty Knight and Elmer Knight, who would end up being their only child. Jack grew up in the small town of Jefferson where he attended both Jefferson Elementary and Jefferson High Schools. He spent much of his time in his Father & Uncle's auto dealership/garage on Main Street in Jefferson. He enjoyed playing sports such as Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Jack was well liked, he was class president and part of the Championship Baseball team for Jefferson in 1946, his Senior year.

Jack joined the Navy shortly after graduating high school, as most young men of that era did with WWII winding down. He was a Seebee and played the trombone in the Navy Band, playing many gigs in Navy clubs during the Benny Goodman era. While in the Navy he landed in Hawaii, Kwajalein and the Marshall Islands. Upon discharge from the Navy in 1948, Jack returned home to Jefferson and soon met a cute little red-headed girl, Margaret Hice, through some friends. Jack & Margaret were married December 28, 1949.

Jack worked at Freres Lumberyard delivering supplies through the 1950's. He became the Jefferson Postmaster in 1962 until retirement in 1990. He was active in many community projects through the 1950's, 60's and 70's. He was a member of the Lions Club and helped on many clean-up projects around town including help build the community swimming pool/park, initiated the original Mint Festivals, Parades and Frog Jump. He enjoyed wood working and built a boat for his family to enjoy many for years water skiing/camping through the Summers at Big Lake located at the Summit of Santiam Pass, at the base of Mt. Washington in the Cascade Mountains.

Jack enjoyed wood turning and did so until his later years. He loved teaching woodturning to newcomers and was instrumental in starting Willamette Valley Woodturners in Portland and Cascade Woodturners in Salem, both are still active to date. He and Margaret enjoyed traveling with their travel trailer to various woodturning clubs and symposiums on both the West and East Coasts. Jack was a member of Jefferson Baptist Church for many years and worked on several church projects in the position of, what his family lovingly calls, "sidewalk foreman."

Jack went home to be with Jesus on October 6, 2025, at the age of 97. He will be laid to rest in Jefferson Pioneer Cemetery during graveside services, Friday, October 17 at 11:00am. He is preceded in death by his Mother Clara Doty Knight, Stepmother Leta Thomas Knight, Father Elmer Knight and Daughter Vicki Knight Fordham. He is survived by Wife Margaret Hice Knight, Son Doug Knight. Grandchildren, Scott Fordham, Tiffany Knight Neufeldt and Husband Jason Neufeldt. Great-Grandchildren, Beckett Fordham, Zadie Fordham, Luke Neufeldt, Maggie Neufeldt.