Ferral H. "Stormy" Knight

Ferral H. "Stormy" Knight, 83, of Woodruff, Arizona, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2022, surrounded by his family. Ferral was born on November 15, 1938, in St. George, Utah to Jesse Victor and Martha Vilate Knight. He was the fourth of six children and grew up roaming the hills of Mesquite, Nevada. Ferral graduated from Virgin Valley High School and attended a year of college at Brigham Young University before transferring to Utah State University College of Southern Utah (now called Southern Utah University) in Cedar City, Utah, where he graduated with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education.He later received his Masters of Education from Northern Arizona University.

As a young boy growing up in the desert of Nevada, Ferral would often come home with critters in his pockets. He especially loved snakes, spiders, and lizards. His mother was afraid to go into his room because she didn’t know what live critter would be there. In high school Ferral was active in FFA and even did a live demonstration during a competition on how to gut and skin a rabbit. When Ferral was a Junior in high school, he was involved in a serious car accident where he broke his neck - an accident that he never fully recovered from and suffered from headaches for most of his life, but he never complained about the pain.

After graduating from high school, Ferral was drafted into the military, but due to his neck injury, he was released from duty. At the age of 21 he was called to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Western Canada/Alaska Mission. After his mission, he married his college sweetheart, Mary Alice Farnsworth, on July 12, 1961, in the St. George, Utah Temple.

In 1963, Ferral graduated from college and was hired to teach in Holbrook, Arizona. He taught 5th Grade for 14 years, 8th Grade Science for 13 years, and Special Education for 2 years. He retired from teaching in 1992, but remained active on the District School Board until his death. After retiring from teaching, Ferral worked as the Human Resource Director for the Petrified Forest National Park for 20 years, retiring in 2012.

Ferral was active in the Boy Scouts of America for more than 50 years. He loved serving as a Scoutmaster and spent many summers at Scout Camp. He served in many Troop, District, and Council positions and attended several National Jamborees. He spent time each summer taking scouts on hiking adventures to Havasu in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, backpacking trips in the Superstition Mountains, or backpacking trips at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He was awarded the Silver Beaver for his years of dedication and service.

Ferral loved volunteering in the community and served on the Navajo County Fair Commission, Arizona Educators Association, Holbrook Educators Association, Holbrook Unified School District School Board, and was involved in Community Theater.

Ferral was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many Ward and Stake Callings. At the age of 80 he was called as the Elders Quorum President in his ward and would often say that you are never too old to serve. His favorite calling, next to Scoutmaster, was as a Temple Worker in the Snowflake Temple. He also loved doing Family History and was always "finding cousins" wherever he went.

After the death of his wife Mary, Ferral married Kathy Owens on July 4, 2013, and became "Papa" to her grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Owens, sisters Rose Ann Shaver and Melba Sylvester, children Mary Kaye (Mike) Hall, Laurie Jones, Edi (Ron) Ulloa, Newel (Nola) Knight, Jeff (Theresa) Knight, Dyonne (Jorge) Pimienta, Galen (Shannon) Knight, Cory (Amanda) Knight, 27 Grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Alice Farnsworth, daughter, Darlene Knight, parents Jesse Victor and Martha Vilate Knight, and siblings Lydia Abbott, Victor Berdell Knight, and Darline Knight.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, February 5, 2022, in the Woodruff Ward building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Viewing will be held on Friday, February 4th from 6-7:30pm at Owens-Livingston Mortuary in Holbrook (409 N. 1st Ave) and on Saturday, February 5th from 9:00-9:45am at the Woodruff Ward Building. Family and friends that are not able to attend the funeral can email [email protected] to request an online viewing link.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you use the money to perform an act of service for someone in need or donate it to the Temple Building Fund for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.