Mary Goolsby Mcknight

Obituary: Mary Goolsby McKnight of Kannapolis died at home on Saturday, August 9th, 2014. She was born February 27th, 1943 in Cabarrus County to the late C. McNeil Petrea and Forrest Hoppers Petrea. Mary worked for 5 years in the Accounts Payable department of Cannon Mills before going to CPCC for an Associate's Degree. Mary was a member of Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Fraternity of the Junior College. Following, Mary attended University of North Carolina at Charlotte receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree with honors. After five years of teaching, she returned to receive her Masters Degree of Human Development and Learning. Mary spent 33 1/2 teaching in Cabarrus County Schools; 30 1/2 years were spent at Odell Elementary School. Mary retired in 2006, moving back to the Petrea Estate near her beloved Bethpage Presbyterian Church where she attended until her death. At Bethpage, Mary served as a deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, church member and after retiring started a quilting group, headed by her sister-in-law Libby Toler. Mary also enjoyed being a member of the Cabarrus Quilters Guild. Besides quilting, Mary enjoyed reading, gardening and spending time at her mountain home. Mary married Leon Goolsby in 1962 and they had two sons, M. Leon Goolsby, III and C. Neil Goolsby. She has three grandchildren, Bryson Goolsby, Mason Goolsby, and Devon Goolsby and five step grandchildren, William Henderson, Ellyn Henderson, Haley Viall, Hannah Viall, and Kennedy Viall. Mary's first husband Leon died in 1992. She married childhood friend Eric E. McKnight in 1997. In addition to her parents and first husband, Mary was preceded in death by her sister, Anita P. Riggsbee. Surviving siblings are Wayne H. Petrea, C. "Macky" Petrea, and Patty P. Lee of Kannapolis and Betty P. Kornowski of Thousand Oaks, California. Mary is also survived by many wonderful nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation will be held Tuesday August 12th from 11am to 1:30pm in the Fellowship Hall at Bethpage Presbyterian Church, 6020 Mooresville Road, Kannapolis. A service of remembrance will follow at 2pm in the Sanctuary officiated by Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081. Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com
Visitation: 11:00 to 1:30 PM Tuesday August 12, 2014 Bethpage Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall

Service: 2:00 PM Tuesday August 12, 2014 Bethpage Presbyterian Church

Interment: Church Cemetery