Gil Knier, 75, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, died on Monday, May 2, 2016.
Gil was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was involved with many other churches and Ministries, especially the Men’s Ministry Network. He served his country in the United States Air Force from 1963-1984 including service in the Viet Nam War.
Gil was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Knier.
Gil is survived by his daughters, Stephanie (Earl, Jr.) Smith of Enid, Ok., Melanie Knier of Gatlinburg, and Katrina (Francis, Jr.) Maughan of Enid, Ok.; son, Steven (Kathryn) Johnson, of Lancaster, Pa.; two step-sons, Thad ( Janice) Narramore of Soddy Daisy, and Phillip (Christy) Narramore, of Signal Mountain; one sister, Melinda Wallis, of Kirkland, Wa., and one brother, Frederick (Paula) Knier, of Vero Beach, Fl.; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many Wallis cousins.
Interment will be at a later date in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Gil was a good friend and visited me here in Houston. I always appreciated his interest in art-especiallyhis insightful chaiactures of every member of our class for our yearbook.
He deeply had a lasting love affair with his wife, Norma and sorely missed her from his life.
He always had a cheerful disposition. Few in our class knew that he was Sarah Steven’s nephew. He asked for no special favor and fit in immediately when he came to the Academy as a post-graduate student.
I will miss him very much as we corresponded via email on a regular basis and shared a passion for the beauty all about us.
I knew Gil when we were both in the Air Force, stationed at Westover AFB, Chicopee, Massachusetts. At the time he was married to his first wife, Joan. His two daughters, Stephanie and Melanie were very young– one of them (I forget which one) was a toddler. We kept in touch, off and on, through the years. I was very glad that he had a good marriage with Norma and that he was happy. Gil was one of the most intelligent men I knew and he had a sharp wit. We laughed a lot.