- Benjamin Owen Knight Jr. , Age: 77
Jan 01, 1945 - May 06, 2022
Benjamin Owen Knight Jr, of Kansas City, Missouri, born on January 1, 1945 passed on May 6, 2022. Ben was a beloved father and grandfather. Ben was the son of the late Benjamin Owen Knight Sr and Inez Mildred Knight. In his early years, Ben grew up on a farm in North Kansas City. He worked with his father on the farm, growing crops and raising cattle. Ben was part of the 4H club and enjoyed going into the city to hang out with his father at the Kansas City Club. Ben graduated high school from Park Hill in 1963, he attended University of Missouri-Columbia, MO in 1963-66 and graduated from Parsons College in 1968 with a BA. Ben was a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SA). After graduation Ben joined the Air Force, became a Procurement Specialist which led him to his real estate career. During his twenties he was also involved with the several organizations including BOTAR, he was an escort several times and in one of the classes is were he met his first wife Diane Zahner. Shortly after they married in 1970 they
Ben & Diane ended up divorcing in 1986 and shortly after he married Melody “Dee” Sutherland in 1987. Ben & Dee had a passion for gardening, working outdoors, scuba diving in the Caribbean and skiing in Colorado. They also partnered in real estate investments, while Ben still focused on running his company & contracting for Lincoln Property Company. Ben loved entertaining, whether it was for family, friends or neighbors. He always went above and beyond for holiday celebrations. Ben also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and cooking. Ben was a life long Republican (with the exception of a couple of years) and attended George W. Bush’s inauguration in 2004.
Ben spent many happy hours gardening and landscaping at his home, Meriwether Lodge, which he and Dee designed and built at their property, Charbonneau Farms, high on a hill overlooking the Missouri River at the highest point in Platte County. Ben moved back into the city shortly after Dee passed away.
Over the past several years, he enjoyed traveling to Colorado, Italy, Virginia and to Africa for missionary work.
Ben wanted most to be remembered as a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather & friend.
Ben was proceeded in death by his parents, Benjamin O Knight, Sr. and Inez Mildred Knight, sister Sarah Elizabeth Knight and wife Melody Sutherland Knight.
Ben is survived by his children; Anastasia (Stacey) Knight Oldham (Brian Oldham), Benjamin Owen Knight III (Amanda Knight), Ashley Knight Reed (Aaron Reed), Jay Sutherland (Sarah Sutherland), Quent Sutherland (Riga Sutherland), Heather Diamond; and ten loving grandchildren (Madison Reed, Jackson Oldham, Gavon Reed, Griffin Knight, Cullen Knight, Elise Sutherland, James Sutherland, Samantha Sutherland, Lily Sutherland, and Zane Baker)
Service
A Celebration of Life will be held on June 30th at 5:00 pm at O’Neil’s located at 9417 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66206.
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1945 - 2022 (77 years)
