Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Don Knight, passed away peacefully at Chapman House on February 12, 2025, at the age of 82.
He is survived by his loving wife Mel (nee Umali), his children—Kelly Howell of Kingston; Barb (Dale) Kelsh of Milton; and Geoff (Robin) Knight of London; and grandchildren – Matt Howell, Alicia Howell, Kelsie Howell, Justin Sauve, Josh Sauve, and Keifer Knight. Don is also survived by great-grandchildren Keigan, Roland, and Nova.
Also survived by Mel’s family: sister Ophelia Carroll, sister Elsa (Jun) Figuracion, brother Isagani (Lily), and sister Cleopatra.
Predeceased by wives Margaret Hill and Linda McHutchion.
He was born in Meaford, ON, in 1942, the son of the late Ivan Knight and the late Viola Knight. Survived by sister Brenda (Tom predeceased) of Kingston and brother Dennis (Joanne) of Meaford, and nephews and nieces Salinda (Neil) Hopkins, Chris Knight, James (Lindsay) Knight, along with several grand-nephews.
Don, after graduating from Meaford District High School, studied Economics at the University of Waterloo. While in high school, he worked weekends and holidays at the family hardwood flooring manufacturing firm, Stanley Knight Ltd. After brief stints at Waterloo Trust and Savings Co. and Zellers, Don embarked on a career in insurance and financial planning. He was an insurance investigator with Retail Credit Co., an insurance adjuster and claims manager with Traveler’s Insurance, and ultimately opened his own insurance brokerage in Milton, ON – Knight Insurance Brokers Ltd. When he sold his brokerage, he became a financial planner with Investors Group in Owen Sound. Along the way, he dabbled with being an apiarist and operating a nut grove in Meaford.
Don had a lifelong service to his communities. He served as president of the Milton Optimist Club, president of the Milton Chamber of Commerce, president of Milton Minor Baseball, member of the Meaford Planning Advisory Committee, chairman of the Meaford General Hospital Board, chairman of Grey Bruce Health Services Board, member of the Owen Sound Planning & Heritage Committee, member of the Board of Governors for Georgian College, and chair of the Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation. He even tried out his acting chops with Owen Sound Little Theatre.
Don also served his communities as a councillor for the town of Milton from 1980 to 1985 and then served one term as the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the riding of Halton Burlington, where he served as parliamentary assistant to the chair of Management Board and chair of the Select Committee on the Environment.
Don was passionate about nature and environment. He was a longtime member of the Owen Sound Field Naturalists. One of his biggest achievements was when he, his brother Dennis, and two friends completed an end-to-end walk of the Bruce Trail. For the past seven years, Don operated the website OntarioNature Trails.com, a website containing a data base of over 1,300 nature trails in Ontario.
Don and Mel have been long-time adherents and faithful attendees of First United Church, Owen Sound, and Don spent several years on Church Council.
Many thanks to Dr. Aboo and Oncology, Dr. Basik, Emergency, ICU, and Palliative Care departments staff for their care and guidance. As well, many thanks to Dr. Hodgson and Dr. Beverley Preater and the staff at Chapman House, to Rev. Kristal McGee and Rev. Kathy Underwood for the spiritual care, support, and prayers in addition to the invaluable support and prayers from friends and relatives for giving Don the support and comfort he needed to get through his tough journey and the willingness to give help when needed.
Special thanks to our great neighbours Bill and Ed, for being there for Mel whenever she needed a ride to and from the hospital.
A service celebrating Don’s life will take place at First United Church, Owen Sound, on March 8 at 11 a.m. A private interment at Lakeview Cemetery, Meaford, will follow at a later date.
As your expression of sympathy, donations to the Grey Bruce Residential Hospice ‘Chapman House’, the Canadian Cancer Society, Meaford Hospital Foundation, or a charity of your choice would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON, N4L 1B9, to whom arrangements have been entrusted.
