Sidney Eugene "Pete" McKnight

Sidney Eugene “Pete” McKnight, age 90, of Eufaula, Alabama, died peacefully Dec. 20, 2025, in Dothan, Alabama. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 2 P.M. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Ken Bush officiating and Chapman Funeral Home directing. The visitation will be held prior to the service at 1 P.M.

Pete was born Feb. 22, 1935, the fourth child of Mary Ella and Tull McKnight.  He graduated from Abbeville High School in 1953.  He married his beloved wife of 70 years, Hilda Ann Hall McKnight in 1955. They eventually settled in Eufaula with their two young daughters where they built a life of love and service to their community and their church.

Pete spent his career in the office supply and equipment business, eventually taking over Mooty’s Business Supply in Eufaula from his mentor, Nick Mooty.  He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club, and especially active at First Baptist Church of Eufaula where he served as a deacon and the Sunday School Director for many years.  He was the chief bus driver for over a decade of Youth Choir tours.  Pete loved people, especially young people, and many folks learned to water ski on Lake Eufaula because he took great joy in teaching them one of his favorite activities. He was an avid Auburn fan, developing relationships there through the furniture and equipment business. He sent his two daughters there and often joked that he owned a building or two on campus by the time they got their degrees. 

Pete’s Christian faith manifested in an active life of service and generosity to others. He was an active member of The Gideons International for many years. He handed out thousands of Bibles to schoolchildren, servicemen, and healthcare workers as part of that work and led the organization at the local and state levels. In retirement he and Hilda became active in Campers on Mission, traveling with other campers to sites to participate in mission work.  Pete served as state president of this organization. He served as a Barbour County Commissioner and in 2008 he received the Father Killian Mooney award by the Eufaula Kiwanis Club, naming him Humanitarian of the Year.

He is preceded in death by his parents Tullis Franklin and Mary Ella Tison McKnight, brothers George Edgar McKnight and Charles Webster McKnight and sister, Jeanette McKnight Barnette.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years Hilda Ann Hall McKnight, his daughters Sandra McKnight Munn (Art) and Leah McKnight Slawson (Guice, Jr.); four grandchildren, Melissa Ann Munn, Guice “Chip” Slawson, III, Emily Elizabeth Munn, and Mary Augusta Slawson Hill (Preston) and one great-granddaughter, Anne Fowler Wilson Hill.

The family wishes to thank Dr.  Jeff Bush.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, The Barbour County Auburn Club, local church, or a charity of your choice.

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