Obituary for Yvonne Knight

Yvonne Teresa Knight

December 19, 1942 – March 16, 2024

Yvonne T. Knight, a resident of Stillwater, Oklahoma, passed away on March 16, 2024. She was 81 years old.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 AM, Wednesday, March 20,2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father Carson officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Yvonne was born on December 19, 1942, to Dana and Hepsey Knight. She was an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe and a Muscogee Creek descendant. She grew up on the farm south of Ponca City with her 5 sisters and cousins. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated in 1961 from Ponca City High School. She was an original member of the Ookeehee Club. After graduation, she attended Kansas University and graduated with her teaching degree. She taught high school in Kansas City. After, she enrolled at the University of New Mexico School of Law and obtained her doctorate of law degree in 1971. Yvonne was the first Native American woman to earn her J.D. at UNM Law. Following her graduation, she spent the next 36 years working as an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund until her retirement in 2007. Yvonne spent the majority of her adult life living in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. She enjoyed the outdoors and often enjoyed skiing, fishing, bike riding, camping and hiking. She hiked several different mountain peaks in her life. She also enjoyed traveling and was able to see various parts of the world. After her retirement, Yvonne relocated to Stillwater, Oklahoma and made her home there until her passing.

Her love for her family and the lengths she would go to for each of them was something to be admired. She took great pride in her grandkids, supporting them in all they did and cheering them on from the comforts of her home.

She is survived by her sisters and their spouses: Vanessa M GoodEagle of Ponca City, Rozina (Frank) Adson of Pawnee, OK, Ruth (Ted) Felix, Jenny (Pete) Buffalohead, and Phyllis Rush, all of Ponca City, Ok and Anne Sargent, Oklahoma City, OK, as well as her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents: Tony Knight and Lena Blackhairhorse Knight, and her nephew, Michael Wilson.

Source: Trout Funeral Home