KENNETH J. KNOWLES
October 23, 1935 - July 31, 2026
Edmond, Oklahoma

Our hearts ache, but we celebrate the Heavenly rest of our beloved Ken Knowles also known as KK. He was born to Joe and Oda Knowles October 23, 1935.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great grandfather! Ken was a Godly man and had the heart of a servant. He and Mary, the love of his life, greeted people at the church doors for many years. His passion for people and interest in their lives made strangers and friends feel loved and important.

Mary and Ken met when he reluctantly gave her a ride to church as a favor to his parents. This started a relationship that turned into 68 loving years of marriage filled with love and lots of laughter. In the latter years, Ken wholeheartedly devoted himself to caring for Mary throughout her Alzheimer’s disease until she died in 2024.

Graduating from OU as a Geologist, early in his career he would spend nights at the drilling site collecting and analyzing core samples for oil/gas. He loved the energy business and during the oil downturns had a second profession as a homebuilder.

Ken was a loving servant for the Lord and a dedicated Deacon for 30 years at the Memorial Road Church of Christ. He had a special talent for remembering names and facts about people. He and Mary mentored the Young Married class for many years and their influence and example left a legacy for generations to come.

Ken loved to travel. He traveled frequently with friends and family. Ken especially loved to travel annually to Hawaii until it was no longer possible. Summers were spent boating at Lake Tenkiller with his family-he was an avid water and snow skier up until a ripe age. He was a passionate runner and in 2006 trained extensively in the summer heat to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Ken had a genuine interest in the lives of the people around him. He was loved by his neighbors and by those he met. When someone came in his home, he was quick to invite them to “come in and sit down.”

“He fought the good fight; finished the race and kept the Faith!” 2 Tim. 4:7.

He will be missed dearly by his loving family: Daughters: Sheri Knowles Vanhooser and Julie Knowles French (Tom); Grandchildren: Landen Vanhooser (Patricia), Lauren Vanhooser Jacoby (Jeremy), Lindsey Vanhooser Sherwood (Derek), Andrew French (Chelsea) and Kadee French Fitzgerald (Ryan); Great Grandchildren: Maddie and Ethan Vanhooser, Jude & Parker Jacoby, Lincoln & Cooper Sherwood, Ford and Tucker French and Margot Fitzgerald; Great-Great Grandchildren: Oakley and Ivy Vanhooser: and his beloved dog Millie!

His celebration of life will be held at Memorial Road Church of Christ on Thursday August 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, OKC, OK.