Jack Knotts

John Joseph (Jack) Knotts, Jr., age 90, of Eureka, Kansas, passed away May 25, 2022, at Midland Hospice, Topeka, Kansas. Jack was born in Hollywood, California, on April 3, 1932, to John J. Knotts, Sr. and Esther (Dumond) Knotts.

The family moved back to Yates Center, Kansas, when he was four months old. Jack attended country school in Woodson County, Kansas, through the 5th grade. The family then moved to Wichita where Jack attended 6th and 7th grade. The family moved back to Yates Center and Jack graduated in 1950 from Yates Center High School and then attended Chillicothe Business College in Missouri.

After graduation he worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad for nine years as a telegraphy operator and then worked nine years at W.R. Flour Mill in McPherson, in charge of production and transportation. They used Kansas wheat to make flour to sell to families and used wheat from Minnesota to send to bakeries.

Next, he went to work at Certain Teed Corp., a manufacturer of plastic pipe as Division Traffic Manager. Later the company transferred him to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to the corporate offices where he was General Traffic Manager in charge of many plants. When he left Valley Forge he became Vice President of Operations at a major machinery hauling carrier. A year later he was promoted to Executive Vice President.

Jack ended his trucking career at Midwestern Distribution as Assistant to President, operating 1200 trucks. They operated nationwide with two-man teams. Then in 1996, Jack bought a 160 acre ranch near Piedmont, Kansas. He enjoyed his retirement years as a rancher in Greenwood County, Kansas.

Jack was married to Glenna Jean Oswald for 31 years and had four daughters: Pamela Koeller (Steve) of Wichita, Michelle Weatherbie of McPherson, Heather Silvara of Ft. Scott, and Heidi Knotts of Wichita; three granddaughters, Lindsay (Donny) Conklin, McPherson, Kansas, Brooke Silvara, Fort Scott, Kansas, Hannah Silvara, Missouri; six great-granddaughters, McKenzie, Kendall, Reese, Paisley, Kennedy, Maddie; and one great-grandson, Jobe. Jack and Cynthia J. (Ley) Ellsworth were married on October 7, 1989, in Wichita, Kansas. Cindy has two sons; Scott (Rebecca) Ellsworth of Ozawkie and Chris (Andrea) Ellsworth of Wichita; and two granddaughters, Emma and Mackenzie.

Jack enjoyed researching his family history and learned his family came to the United States in 1617. His fifth grandfather back was an aide to General George Washington. After the Revolutionary War, Washington gave him 800 acres of his farm. His grandfather also started a new town, Knottsville, Virginia. Later it became West Virginia. This grandfather was also a generational grandfather of actor Don Knotts.

Preceded in death were his parents, John J. Knotts, Sr. and Esther (Dumond) Knotts; his brother, William D. Knotts; and sister, Vivian L. Sexton.

Jack was a member of the Eureka United Methodist Church, Midian Shrine (Wichita), Greenwood County 3 Wheelers, Gilead Masonic Lodge #143 (Yates Center), and Golden Rod Chapter #163 Order of the Eastern Star (Yates Center).

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia, of the home, his four daughters, five granddaughters, seven great-grandchildren, and two stepsons.

A visitation for Jack will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Friday, June 3, 2022, at the Eureka United Methodist Church, Eureka, Kansas. Following the visitation, a funeral service with Masonic rites will be at 2:00 p.m. Cremation will take place after the funeral service and inurnment will be at a later date in the Yates Center Cemetery, Yates Center, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to the Eureka United Methodist Church, and may be left with Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Highway 54, Iola, Kansas.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .