Jason Henry McKnight

August 24, 1964 – January 23, 2022

Jason Henry McKnight was born on August 24, 1964, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  His parents were Jack and Dianne McKnight.  He and his brother, Eric, grew up in many different towns as their father’s job took them across the United States.  However, Jason spent many years living in Springfield even during his childhood.  He graduated from Eldorado High School, Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1982 but many from Kickapoo High School, Springfield, MO considered Jason to be part of their graduating class.  Jason began a career in the car business after high school and has worked at Marshfield Chevrolet since March 1992.  He enjoyed spending time with his grandparents, Henry and Helen Walser and Fred and Helen McKnight as he grew up. Jason married Karen Eidson on November 5, 2011, at Lake Springfield Boathouse, Springfield, MO and they lived in Springfield and Republic during their marriage.  The blending of their families was very important to them.  During their 10-year marriage, their blended family consisted of Ryan and Charlotte McKnight (grandchildren Leo and Julius), Sarah and Kale Fuller (grandchildren Jackson and Wilson), Jacob and Samantha McKnight (grandchildren Rylynn and Jaylee), Rebecca and Jordan Sterling (grandchildren Kinsley and Cody), Jonah and Arantxa McKnight, and Lauren Elliott and her special friend, Justin Page.  Jason had bonus children from previous marriages that he treated as his own – Joshua Wilson, Tim Ryan and Ethan Terry.  Jason had one brother, Eric McKnight and his wife, Shirley, that he loved dearly along with his nieces, Brittany McKnight (fiancé Jake Ott), Tommierae McKnight, and his nephew, Adan McKnight.  He also had in-laws, Mary and John Eidson as well as brothers and sisters in law, Michael, and Annie Eidson (nephew Fletcher) and Nathan and Heather Dunn (nephew Bryce and nieces Aubrey and Kayla) that he had spent vacation time with and loved very much. Jason was a member of Crossway Baptist Church and the Bisher Bible Fellowship Class.  He was on the security team for several years at Crossway.  He was a Paul Harris fellow and sustaining member of the Rotary Club in Marshfield since 2013 and served as treasurer approximately 7 years as well as serving on the Rotary Board.  He loved watching all football but especially the Kansas City Chiefs.  Jason and Karen enjoyed attending Chiefs games together at GEHA field/Arrowhead Stadium each year and Jason enjoyed playing fantasy football every year with many friends he had met over the years.  He enjoyed listening to audio books on his daily commute and enjoyed reading in his free time.  For many years, he enjoyed spending time playing games on the computer.  Jason loved hiking and traveling to see many different places. He was looking forward to retirement so he could travel more often even out of the country to see places he’d never been. Jason loved the Lord deeply and was very emotional when talking about his salvation. He was saved in a motel room in 2008 at the age of 43.  After that time, he spent time studying the Bible with Brad Bennett and John David Edie when attending Second Baptist Church.  Jason was baptized at Crossway Baptist Church on April 13, 2014.  He commented often how much he loved to worship on Sundays with his brothers and sisters from the Freeway ministry.  Jason and Karen made the decision from the first day of their marriage that tithing and giving at Crossway was of utmost importance. Jason had so many family members, cousins, aunt and uncles, family friends, close friends, work friends that there are too many to name, but he always made sure people knew he cared about them and enjoyed their deep, meaningful conversations.  He was a loyal friend and had some special friends for years – Lonnie Mead, Chris Moore, John Youngblood, Jeff Shaver, Ricky Moore, Kevin Jones, Heath Wilson, Steve Maples, Terry Wrinkle, Rann Coffman, and many, many more.  Jason loved all of his friends deeply and cherished their friendship.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 30, 2022, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Greenlawn Funeral Home North.  Funeral services will be held Monday, January 31, 2022, at 1:00 PM at Crossway Baptist Church, 2900 N. Barnes, Springfield, MO.  Burial will follow in Greenlawn North Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be made to Crossway Baptist Church (2900 N. Barnes, Springfield, MO 65803) or Freeway Ministries (1041 W. Kearney St., Springfield, MO 65803).

We appreciate the love and support from hundreds of family members and friends at this time but especially our church family, Crossway Baptist Church, Bisher Bible Fellowship Class, Marshfield Chevrolet and Marion C. Early School District.