Gordon A. Knight

Gordon Austin Knight,

Gordon Austin Knight, born on March 9, 1938, passed away peacefully in his home on July 15, 2026, at the age of 88, after a brief bout of cancer. He was a proud son of the late Harold Austin and Eleanor Grace (Watson) Knight of Aberdeen, Maryland.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of sixty-five years, Connie (Seese) Knight. Gordon is also survived by his two children, their spouses, and grandchildren; Grant D. Knight, and spouse, April McMullen Knight, of Courtland, Virginia, Julie Knight Brown, and spouse, Kevin J. Brown, of Cumming, Georgia, and two grandchildren, Matthew K. Brown, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Daniel G. Brown, of Cumming, Georgia.

His only sibling, his beloved brother, Ronald H. Knight, died in 2023.

He started school in a one room schoolhouse in rural Harford County, Maryland. Gordon continued his studies going on to complete his Bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University, Morgantown, as well as a postgraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Gordon served eleven years in the U. S. Army Reserve, officers’ corps achieving the rank of Major. His service included recruiting for West Point, as well as tour of duty in South Korea. He retired from the U.S. Department of Interior in 2001, after a 40-year career in public service.

Raised on a farm as a country boy, Gordon’s passion for nature and the out-of-doors only increased over his life. He parlayed Boy Scout merit badges into a deep and lifelong passion for birding and all things outside. He loved to grow vegetables and various ornamental plants, taking great pride in exceptionally large yields of “home grown” vegetables (especially tomatoes) and growing stunning plants for outdoor beds.

Born with a wanderlust inherited from his grandfather, J. Austin Knight, Gordon, with Connie at his side, traveled far and saw much of the world in his lifetime. With a love for history, he diligently compiled and documented family biographies, countless photographs, stories and events to preserve the memories of his ancestors. Upon his retirement from the Department of Interior, Gordon and Connie settled in Cumming, Georgia in 2008, to be close to family.

He treasured his family above all. Gordon will be deeply missed and forever remembered.