Joyce Alene Williams Knight, 80, of Sweet Springs, Mo. passed away on Saturday, March 21^st, 2020,
at Centerpoint Medical Center in  Independence Mo.
 
Due to current concerns with large gatherings, the family will hold a private family service with burial in Fairview Cemetery in Sweet Springs.
 
Born September 29, 1939, at the home of her grandparents in Sweet Springs, Missouri, she was the daughter of Charles L. and Elsie Wheeland Williams. On April 14, 1957, she married Kenneth Dean Knight her high school sweetheart who preceded her in death on Sept. 23, 2013. She was also preceded in death by her parents.
 
Survivors include three sons, Tony Knight of Blue Springs, Mo., Paul Knight and wife Barbara of Oak Grove, Mo. and Steve Knight and wife Michelle of Concordia, Mo; one daughter, Linda Knight Bray and husband Neal of Sweet Springs, Mo; nine grandchildren, Matthew Knight, Michael Knight and wife Erin, Jessicia Knight Keown (children of Tony), Lindsey Knight Bubalo and husband Rich, Kelley Knight Buntin and husband Bradley (children of Paul),  Ryan Bray and wife Kimbra, Lauren Dierking and husband Stewart (children of Linda),  Kyle Knight and wife Amy, Cody Knight and wife Magen (children of Steve); 14 great-grandchildren, Easton Knight, Ellie Keown, Jameson Bubalo, Hadley Bubalo, Sophia Bray, Miles Bray, Juliet Bray, Brook Dierking, Jase Dierking, Braylinn Dierking, Kaysen Knight, Kanen Knight, Ryker Knight and Raylynn Knight; one sister, Vivian Wiley of Sweet Springs; one brother, Charles “Willie” Williams of Mount Holly, North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.
 
Joyce was a member of the Disciples of Christ Christian Church in Sweet Springs, MO., where she sang in the choir, and served as a deacon and an elder. She helped her husband farm for 28 years. She worked at several restaurants in the area, Alwell’s Meats in Concordia, Sweet Springs Villa and Rival Manufacturing. She was a 4-H leader, a member of the Pettis County Extension Club, The Les Soeurs, The Sweet Springs Historical Society, The I-70 Medical Center Auxiliary, The Show Me Ladies with Hat-Attitudes, a charter member of the Friends of Sweet Springs and a volunteer at the Sweet Springs Community Food Pantry, where she served on the Board of Directors. She was also on the Emergency Food and Shelter Board. She liked to do crafts, travel and have fun.
 
As an avid genealogist since high school, she traced her family back to the Emperor Charlemagne. She was a member of the Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Smith Chapter of the Daughters of 1812 Society, The Patsy Gregg Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Society The Slater Chapter Daughters of the American Colonists Society, The Kansas City Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century Society, The Missouri Chapter Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims Society, The Missouri Chapter of New England Women Society, The Missouri Chapter of the Huguenot Society, The Missouri Chapter of the  Dames of the Court of Honor Society, The Missouri Chapter of the Daughters of Colonial Wars Society, The Missouri Court of Women Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company Society , The Plantagenet Society, The Magna Charta Society, The Colonial Order of the Crown of the Emperor Charlemagne Society, The Sovereign Colonial Society Americans of Royal Descent, and The Society of Descendants of the Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. She served as president, secretary, treasurer, registrar and chaplain on the chapter and state level of many of the genealogical organizations she belonged to.
 
Memorial contributions may be made to the Disciples of Christ Christian Church, 400 Bridge St., Sweet Springs, MO 65351 or the Sweet Springs Restoration Foundation in care of Jared Brewer at Equity Bank, 300 S. Miller St., Sweet Springs, MO 65351 . Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com